AMERICUS, Ga.- Georgia College & State University Softball split the Saturday doubleheader with Georgia Southwestern State University to win the series. Georgia College took game one 9-1 with Georgia Southwestern taking game two 8-5.

The Bobcats sit at 22-21 overall and 6-12 in the Peach Belt Conference. The Hurricanes are now 17-23 on the season and 6-12 in the PBC. GCSU returns home to take on North Greenville University on Tuesday, April 9 for a doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m.

Game one of the doubleheader was scoreless until GCSU pushed two around on a big hack from Karlie Gutierrez. She rifled a triple down the right field line to plate Mackenzie Martin and Emily Hobbs who reached on a single and a walk, respectively. Gutierrez then came around to score on a wild pitch to put the Bobcats up 3-0 after four innings. GSW countered with their lone run of the game in the fourth inning on a home run. Georgia College extended their lead to 4-1 on Reina Checo's career first home run. GCSU plated two more runs in the sixth inning with the first scoring on the Jessica Owen's RBI single to left field. Gutierrez came around to score on yet another wild pitch by the Hurricane pitching staff. The Bobcats tacked on some insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a solo shot from Hobbs and a two run round trip shot from Gutierrez.

Gutierrez led the offense with a superb 3-for-4 game including a home run and a triple. She drove in four RBI and came around two score three times. Hobbs had a fantastic 2-for-3 outing scoring three runs and driving in one on a homer. R. Checo went 1-for-3 with her first collegiate home run with a run scored and an RBI.

Shelby Jones had a stellar outing picking up the complete game win in the circle. She only allowed a single run on four hits while striking out six Hurricanes.

GSW avoided the series sweep taking the second game of the doubleheader. Hobbs pushed the first run around in the second inning, reaching via a fielder's choice. A solo home run in the bottom of the frame tied the game at one. GSW took the 3-1 lead in the third inning on a two-run homer. Eliza Khune made it 3-2 on a single which forced an error to score R. Checo. In Georgia Southwestern plated two runs in the fourth on a ground out and an error, 5-2. Martin drove in a run in the fifth inning on an infield single making it 5-3. The Hurricanes drove in three more runs in the bottom of the fifth to finish out their run production. Jessica Owens hit a rocket over the center field fence two push the final two GCSU runs around, 8-5.

Owens and Martin led the offense, both hitting .500. Owens had a home run which drove in two runs and she came around to score. Martin had a pair of singles that plated a run. R. Checo also hit .500 with a walk and came around to score twice.

Tiffany Caban got the start and the loss in the circle for GCSU. She threw four innings with seven runs scoring, six of which were earned, with three strikeouts. Kaitlyn Anders came in and threw the fifth inning allowing a run on two hits. Golden Thrower closed the game allowing no runs and no hits.

About GCSU Athletics 
Owning the top Academic Success Rate among all public colleges and universities in Division II for three consecutive academic years, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won four consecutive Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence, and are two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup and four-time winners of the PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' continued appearances in postseason competition as well as high-level academic success and community-service involvement. Bobcat Athletics embodies the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life." Sign up at @GCSUBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports or subscribe to the GSCU Athletics e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and to interact with GCSU Athletics.
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