MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. | The Hurricanes hit six home runs to spoil the Senior Day celebrations for the Bobcats as Georgia College & State University was swept in a Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader against Georgia Southwestern State University Saturday (April 12) afternoon at the Bobcat Softball Field.
Georgia Southwestern won the opener 10-1 in six innings, and the nightcap 12-2 in five innings.
The Bobcats honored their seven seniors before the doubleheader — Kaitlyn Anders, Kam Caldwell, Divina Checo, Shelby Jones, Caroline Pollock, Samantha Wilson, and Eliza Kuhne.
The Bobcats fell to 21-22 overall and to 12-9 in the PBC, while the Hurricanes improved to 23-20 and 9-9 following the doubleheader. GCSU looks to bounce back in St. Augustine, Florida, when they begin the year's final PBC series with a three-game set against Flagler College April 25 at 6 p.m.
The Hurricanes jumped out in front to a three-run lead in the top of the fourth in the opener, as Ashlyn Rogers and Cooper Watson went for back-to-back home runs following a lead-off walk in the inning. Rogers homered again in the next inning for another pair of runs, and Henderson Hurdle added two more off a two-run single.
Sydney Lancaster drove in Caldwell in the bottom of the fifth, but Georgia Southwestern plated three more in the sixth, as Savana Bradford hit a leadoff home run, and Watson later drove in two more on a single.
Pyper McCard (8-5) sealed the win for the Hurricanes on six innings of one-run softball, giving up four hits and three walks, but striking out a trio.
Hurdle continued the Georgia Southwestern offensive explosion with a solo home run in the second inning of the nightcap. Madison Banks drove in another on a fielder's choice, and Rogers unloaded the bases with a grand slam to make it 6-0.
Emily Hutcheson drove in Lancaster on a double down the line. Yet, four came across for the Hurricanes in the fourth, coming from a pair of doubles and singles as Georgia Southwestern played station to station. Kacie Wiggins drove in a run in Pollock in the bottom of the inning, but once again, the Hurricanes answered back with two more an inning later with a single from Kendall Huelsman.
Graceanne Spears (10-10) secured the win for the Hurricanes, going all five innings, permitting six hits, two runs, and two walks, while striking out five.
The seniors reached base nine times: Checo (4), Caldwell (2), Pollock (2), and Kuhne (1). Jones struck out a pair in 2.1 innings, and Anders collected the final out in the first game of the doubleheader.
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
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