ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. | Reina Checo continued her terror on Flagler pitching in the series, hitting a grand slam in the opener as Georgia College & State University split a Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader against Flagler College Saturday (April 26) at the Flagler Softball Field.
Following the doubleheader, GCSU and Flagler improved to 23-23 and 31-19 overall, respectively, while they both stay even with 14-10 records in the PBC, good for second place. The Bobcats will enter next week's Peach Belt Tournament in Dahlonega, Georgia, as the No. 2 seed due to them winning the season series with the Saints 2-1. More information on the tournament will be announced Monday (April 28).
The Bobcats plated two runs in the second on RBI singles from Kacie Wiggins and Reina Checo to open the opener, and two innings later, Reina Checo stepped up to the plate again with the bases loaded to homer in four more runs—her first home run of the season and first grand slam.
The Saints answered back in the fifth with three, as Sydney Stewart led off with a homer, and Kiley McQuillan singled in a pair. However, the Bobcat bats were not finished, as Karlie Gutierrez singled in Divina Checo, and Maddie Todd homered in the seventh—her second of the series.
Tiffany Caban (9-5) worked four innings, allowing nine base runners: four walks, three hits, and two hit batters, but struck out three. Annalise Knop collected her first save of the season, twirling three shutout innings.
The Saints ripped off a lead quickly in the nightcap, as McQuillan singled in a run to open the contest and hit a three-run home run in the fifth to rally the Flagler offense in what would become a seven-run fifth, to make it 8-0.
Alyssa Hunter (14-5) became the first Saints' pitcher to quiet the Bobcat offense, shutting out the Bobcats over her five innings of work, while striking out six.
The Bobcats had 14 hits in the opener, with multi-hit performances from Reina Checo (4), Todd (3), and Caroline Pollock and Divina Checo (2).
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.
