Lady ‘Cats improve to 29-15, after split with USC Aiken

Georgia College & State University split a Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader with USC Aiken Tuesday afternoon at the Peeler Complex. GC&SU (29-15, 9-7 PBC) won the first game 2-1, but USC Aiken (30-25, 8-10 PBC) rallied and held on for a 4-3 win in game two, as the Lady Bobcats left ten runners stranded on the base paths.
In game one, GC&SU broke open a scoreless game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Tara Hassell’s ground ball to second base was misplayed and Ashley Blanton scored easily from third base for the first run of the game. Amy Davenport followed with a base hit through the left side to score pinch runner Kristen Rutledge for the Lady Bobcat’s second run. GC&SU had a chance to blow the game open in the sixth inning with two on and nobody out, but Lady Pacer pitcher JoAnn Jones retired the next three batters to get out of the jam. USC Aiken finally got on the board in the top of the seventh as Jayme Durand belted a solo home run over the right field wall, but it wasn’t enough as the Lady Bobcats held on for the 2-1 victory.
Jenna Kubesch (16-4) picked up the win in the circle for GC&SU after allowing one run on four hits with 10 strikeouts in a complete game victory. Jones (12-10) took the loss for the Lady Pacers after allowing two runs on seven hits. Diana Baruffa went 2-for-3 to lead GC&SU at the plate.
In game two, Joni Frei led off the bottom of the first inning with a triple and later scored on a wild pitch to put the Lady Bobcats ahead 1-0. USC Aiken staring pitcher Samantha Blair had to leave the game after only two batters because she injured herself catching line drive off the bat of Aundrea Baker. GC&SU had a chance to blow the game open with the bases loaded later in the inning, but relief pitcher Amy Fox struck out Davenport to end the threat.
The Lady Pacers took advantage of a GC&SU error to plate the tying run in the second inning. The Lady Bobcats once again had a chance for a big inning in the bottom of the frame with a pair of runners aboard, but Fox worked out of the jam once again to keep the score knotted at 1-1. The Lady Pacers scored three runs with two out in the fourth inning as Meghan Lynch delivered a clutch RBI single through the left side to score Temeka Floyd for the go-ahead run. Ragen Reeves followed with a two-run double to put the Lady Pacers up 4-1.
GC&SU scratched a run across in the sixth inning as Erica Usry delivered a pinch-hit RBI single to score Rutledge. The Lady Bobcats had two runners on later in the inning, but Fox once again wriggled free to get out of the inning without further damage.
GC&SU made things interesting again in the seventh inning as Kubesch’s RBI out-scored Frei to cut the lead down to one. The Lady Bobcats would load the bases later in the inning with a chance to win the game, but a diving Sarah Harvey at second base snared Davenport’s line drive to end the game and give USC Aiken the 4-3 victory .
Fox (6-6) earned the win for USC Aiken after allowing two runs on eight hits in six-plus innings. Jones recorded the final two outs to earn her second save. Brook Harrison took the loss for GC&SU after allowing four runs on five hits in 3.2 innings.
Jami Cornwell went 2-for-3 with two runs scored to lead USC Aiken. Frei went 2-2 with two runs and a pair of walks, while Nikki Smith went 2-for-3 to lead GC&SU at the plate.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Apr 9 2004. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry