HARDEEVILLE, S.C. | Georgia College & State University fell to the University of South Carolina-Beaufort 5-2 in a Peach Belt Conference softball contest Friday (March 7) night at the Richard Gray Sports Complex.
The Bobcats fell to 8-12 overall and to 2-2 in the PBC, while the Sand Sharks climbed to 16-8 and 1-3. GCSU completes the three-game set against USC Beaufort Saturday (March 8) with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
Shelby Jones (3-6) was set to work a quick top of the first inning; however, a miscue allowed the Sand Sharks to load the bases with two out, and a double by Chloe Turner cleared the bases with three unearned runs.
Caroline Pollock looked to chip into the deficit in the following half-inning, via an RBI single to right field; however, the Sand Sharks padded their lead against Jones a few innings later. Taelor Chang doubled in Jaden Goodwin for the first run earned against the Bobcat starter, and another run scored from a throwing error.
Kam Caldwell led off the top of the seventh with a home run - her second of the season - but that was all the Bobcats could muster in the final inning.
Cierra Kinlaw (7-4) gathered the win for USC Beaufort, pitching six strong innings, giving up only two runs and striking out seven. Madison Murphy picked up her first save, pitching a clean inning.
Pollock and Divina Checo led the Bobcats in hits on the night, collecting two each, while Caldwell, Sydney Lancaster, Maddie Todd, and Emily Hutcheson accumulated a hit for themselves.
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.
