MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. | Emily Hobbs collected five hits, including a home run, between both games of a doubleheader as Georgia College & State University had a hit parade to push past the University of South Carolina-Beaufort in a pair of Peach Belt Conference softball contests Sunday (Mar. 21) night at the Bobcat Softball Field.
The Bobcats, after managing only one run in the first game of the series, used a big second inning to collect a 9-1 run-rule victory in the first game, and rallied for a 7-0 victory in the nightcap. GCSU improved to 10-13 and 4-5 in PBC play, while the USCB fell to 18-13 and 2-7. The Bobcats continue conference play, as they travel to the University of South Carolina-Aiken for a three-game set, with the opener on Friday (Mar. 27) at 6 p.m. at the USCA Softball Facility.
The Sand Sharks scored the first run of the day, as Saria Simmons reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Catharine Conway to score. However, Reina Checo tied things in the first, with a groundout to second base to drive in Hobbs.
The Bobcat offense exploded for seven runs in the second, with the first coming from a single from Hobbs, the next three from a bases-loaded walk, and two hit-by-pitch, followed by a fielder's choice from Emily Hutcheson, and finally a two-RBI double from Maddie Todd.
Reina Checo drove in Kimber Kent on a single to the pitcher in the third to score the final run of the contest between both teams.
Tiffany Caban (3-4) pitched five innings of one-hit, one-run softball, striking out seven Sand Sharks along the way. Cassie Brundage (5-2) could not escape the second inning, giving up six hits, two walks, and eight of the nine Bobcat runs.
Hobbs led the Bobcats in hits with three, while Todd had two. Checo, Sydney Lancaster, Karlie Gutierrez, and Halley Nobles also each had a hit. Todd's double was the only extra-base hit.
Kacie Wiggins started the Bobcat offense in the nightcap, singling in Todd in the second, and Hobbs homered to left an inning later to increase the lead to 2-0.
Hobbs drove in another run on a sacrifice fly in the fifth, with Lancaster singling in Kent, and Gutierrez tripling to centerfield to score Lancaster. Kent and Hobbs each hit singles to drive in runs to conclude the 7-0 victory.
Annalise Knop (2-0) pitched six shutout innings, allowing only six base runners and striking out one. Madison Murphy (9-5) struggled through six innings of work, as the Bobcats managed nine hits and three walks, while striking out only three times.
Kent, Hobbs, and Lancaster each had multi-hit performances, with Gutierrez, Wiggins, and Nobles each having a hit. Kent, Gutierrez, Wiggins, and Nobles each had a stolen base.
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.
