>> GEORGIA COLLEGE
Georgia College & State University (GCSU) softball swept a pair of games against Fort Valley State University (FVSU), then split with Emmanuel College (EC) to officially open its 2023 campaign at home this week at the Peeler Complex.
The Bobcats jumped on the FVSU Wildcats early, plating two runs in the first inning last Sunday. Dacula native Mackenzie Martin knocked in the first RBI of the game with a left-field single, followed by Kam Caldwell grounding out to the second baseman, but sending a second runner home. Lauren Sommerer from Loganville later put the ball in play and picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice to give the Bobcats a 3-1 lead.
The fourth and final RBI for GCSU came off the bat of MacKenzie Hoffman via an infield single. Hoffman was the only Bobcat to have multiple hits in the game as she went 2-for-4 with a double in the second inning.
Jana Shellhorse, hailing from Hampton, got her first start and win in the circle for the Bobcats.
Shellhorse nailed eight strikeouts while allowing only one earned run in five innings of work. Illinois native Montana Ledbetter got the relief effort and the save. She picked up three strikeouts while allowing zero earned runs in two innings.
The second game was heavy in offense for the Bobcats as they shut out the Wildcats 8-0 over five innings.
The big bat of Social Circle’s Jessica Owens awoke early in the contest as she picked up an RBI on a single to center field in the first inning.
GCSU then got hot in the second inning with three runs. Ashley Schell pushed two runs across on a bunt single that turned into an errant throw by the FVSU defense to bring another runner and herself around the base paths. Sydney Lancaster followed suit by driving a single to center field, which made it past the centerfielder and allowed Lancaster to make a round trip.
In the third inning, Madison Todd, from Suwannee, kicked things off with an infield single to score the first run of the inning. Then, during Schell’s at bat, a GCSU run scored on a dropped third strike passed ball. The third run of the inning came on yet another infield single, this time by Lancaster.
The Bobcats capped off the game in the bottom of the fifth on a pinch-hit bunt from Haydn Bendall that forced a Wildcat error to end the game in run-rule fashion.
Shelby Jones of Kissimmee, Fla., made her first start and picked up the complete game shutout, the first for the Bobcats since February 2020. Jones made six strikeouts through a complete five innings of work.
The Bobcats continued play Tuesday night against the EC Lions. Both contests were close, as the Lions and the Bobcats kept fans on their toes with just three runs scored between the two games.
GCSU faced a solid EC pitching squad and didn't score until Lancaster put the Bobcats on the board with third-inning RBI single down the thirdbase line. The ball made its way to the left fielder and base runner Todd was able to come around and score from second base.
Sommerer later picked up her first hit of the young season on an RBI single to right centerfield to score Martin and reach the final 2-0 score.
Shellhorse picked up her second start and win for the Bobcats after throwing a complete seven-inning game shutout while allowing only five hits after facing 28 batters.
Unfortunately, the Bobcats were not able to score any runs in the second game against the Lions. Florida’s Shea Zweifel went 2-for-2 in hits for GCSU with a pair of singles and Lancaster was the lone Bobcat with a multi-base hit after rifling a double to the leftcenter wall. Jones picked up her second start in the circle for the Bobcats and took the 1-0 loss after allowing seven hits in five innings of work. Ledbetter made the relief effort and allowed zero hits in two innings of work.
The Bobcats return to action Feb. 12 at Coker University for their first road doubleheader of the year. First pitch is set for 3 p.m., with game two following. Live stats and broadcast links will be available at GCBobcats. com.