MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. | Karlie Gutierrez drove in two runs as Georgia College & State University held on for a 4-3 Peach Belt Conference softball victory over Lander University Friday (March 21) evening at the Bobcat Softball Field.

GCSU improved to 14-12 overall and to  8-2 in the league, while the Bearcats fell to 13-12 and 3-4. The two teams wrap up their three-game series with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday (March 22).

The Bobcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead after single runs in the first and third innings. Kam Caldwell, who went 3-for-3, led off the bottom of the first with a double to center field, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt fom Divina Checo and scored on a Gutierrez ground out.

Caldwell was in the middle of it in the third. After Reina Checo led off with a one-out walk, Caldwell and Divina Checo followed with singles to load the bases. Gutierrez followed with a sacrifice fly.

The Bearcats leveled the game at 2 as they scored twice in the top of the fourth as they took advantage of a GCSU error.

The Bobcats took a 4-3 lead in the fifth thanks to Caldwell. Reina Checo led off the frame by being hit by a pitch and then Caldwell knocked her in with a double to left-center.

GCSU added an insurance run an inning later on an infield single from Kacie Wiggins to take a 4-2 lead.

Lander got a run back on an RBI double to center by Kara Vonachen in the seventh to trim the deficit to 4-3.

GCSU's Shelby Jones (6-6) earned the win as Vonachen as she wiggled out of further trouble as she retired the next two batters on a fly out and a swinging third strike to end the game. Jones scattered eight hits and struck out seven in the circle.
 

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. 

  Read Full Article