AUGUSTA, Ga. | The Georgia College & State University softball team took down the Augusta Jaguars 6-3 in game one of the Peach Belt Conference weekend series Friday (March 28) at Jaguars Field.
The Bobcats improved to 17-14 overall and to 10-3 in the PBC, while the Jaguars fell to 18-19 and 2-11. The two teams wrap up their three-game series Saturday (March 29) with a noon doubleheader.
GCSU starter Shelby Jones (7-7) earned the complete-game victory in the circle. She scattered seven hits, allowed three runs - all unearned, and struck out three.
The Jaguars took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Grace Bailey singled to left. GCSU would answer back in the top of the third when Kam Caldwell laced a double to right scoring Lauren Rule. Rule initiated a two-out rally with a walk, followed by Caldwell driving her in.
Augusta would take back the lead at 3-1 in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single by Candace Winder and and another on an errant throw.
In the top half of the fifth Caldwell would rip a one-out triple giving the Bobcats a great chance to score. Karlie Gutierrez would drive in Caldwell with a two-out double cutting the deficit to one at 3-2.
Divina Checo led off the top of the sixth inning with a triple. Maddie Todd would drive her in with a ground out to short. With some more two-out magic, Caldwell laced a single through the right-side scoring Kacie Wiggins giving the Bobcats a 4-3 lead.
The Bobcats would extend their lead in the top of the seventh as Gutierrez would lead off the inning with a double to center. She would then score on a throwing error. Todd would add to the lead with a sacrifice fly giving the Bobcats a 6-3lead, which was all they needed.
Six of the nine hits by the Bobcats went for extra base hits. Caldwell and Gutierrez each had three hits with two going for extra bases. Checo also collected two extra base hits in the win.
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.
