MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. | Francis Marion University took a non-conference softball doubleheader to spoil the home opener for Georgia College & State University Wednesday (Feb. 5) afternoon at the Bobcat Softball Field.
The 14th-ranked Patriots took the opener 12-1 in five innings before holding on for a 4-2 decision in the nightcap.
Francis Marion improved to 4-0, while the Bobcats slipped to 1-3. GCSU returns to action Friday (Feb. 7) when they host Mars Hill University in a 6 p.m. contest.
The Patriots scored in every inning of the opener, breaking the game open with a five-run third inning and closing it out with three runs in the fifth.
The Bobcats got their lone run off FMU starter Alyssa Poston (2-0), who struck out nine in the complete-game effort, on a leadoff home run to right field from
Kam Caldwell in the first inning. It was her first long ball of 2025.
Tiffany Caban (1-1) absorbed the loss for GCSU, which surrendered 10 hits and issued seven walks.
Kendal Miller had four hits and drove in three runs for the Patriots, while Paige Strickland had four RBI.
FMU opened up a 4-0 lead through the first three innings of game two off GCSU starter
Shelby Jones (0-1).
Jones, who scattered six hits and recorded three strikeouts, kept the Bobcats in contention as she retired 12 of the final 15 batters she faced.
GCSU finally got to Patriot starter Jenna Walling (2-0), who tallied eight strikeouts, in the seventh inning. Pinch hitter
Elora Wilmot drew a walk before scoring on
Divina Checo's two-run homer to left to cut the deficit in half at 4-2. It was the first home run of the season for Checo, who had two of the three hits for the Bobcats. Caldwell accounted for the other GCSU hit in the third inning.
About GCSU Athletics
Owning the top Academic Success Rate among all public colleges and universities in Division II for four consecutive academic years, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won five 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.
