Softball splits Lynn series

The GCSU softball team started its 2010 season by splitting a double-header Feb. 7 against Lynn University on a cold Sunday afternoon at Peeler Complex. The Bobcats fell behind 5-0 in the opener, but exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to claim an 8-5 victory. The Fighting Knights came back to take the second game, 4-2, and salvage the split.

Sophomore pitcher Haley Burnett went the distance on the mound in the first game for the Bobcats to pick up the win despite early struggles. Burnett added a pair of hits and four RBI, including a key three-run homer in the eight-run sixth.

Four runs in the first and one in the second by the Lady Knights gave them a commanding 5-0 advantage until the sixth frame. Back-to-back doubles by freshman third baseman Kelsea Martin and senior second baseman Kayla Smith to start the inning put runners on second and third. Burnett then sent a three-run blast over the fence in left center to cut the Fighting Knights’ lead down to 5-3.

After a walk to freshman catcher Kali Carswell, Lynn pitcher Callie Darlin appeared to settle down, getting two outs. But the Lady Bobcats continued the onslaught. Junior designated hitter Belourse Jean-Francais singled, and advanced to second on a wild pitch, with sophomore pinchrunner Sabrina Chandler advancing to third. Junior right fielder Kati Pickowitz followed with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error, plating Chandler and Jean-Francais and tying the game at 5-5. Senior center fielder Allison Schwimer followed with a triple, scoring Pickowitz and giving the Bobcats a 6-5 lead. After a walk to Martin, Smith singled, scoring Schwimer and extending the lead to 7-5. The Bobcats got one more run on an RBI single by Burnett, scoring Martin and making it an 8-5 advantage.

Burnett got the final three outs in the top of the seventh to preserve the victory for GCSU.

“(The comeback) showed we have heart,” Burnett said. “We’ve been doing really well so far, and I think if we continue to grow, we’ve got a chance to have a lot of success. Obviously our goal is to win the conference.”

The Bobcats had some early success in the second game, but couldn’t hold their early 2-1 lead, as Lynn rallied for a 4-2 victory on the back of five shutout innings from Cristie Kaufman.

Down 1-0 in the second, the Bobcats pushed across a couple of runs. Jean-Francais led the inning off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Junior shortstop Brandie Monroe’s RBI single pushed Jean-Francais across to tie the game up. After Monroe advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Pickowitz, Smith hit an RBI single, scoring Monroe and giving the Bobcats a 2-1 lead. GCSU threatened for more but eventually left the bases loaded.

Lynn went on to tie the game in the fourth. Nikki Pallister led off with a double, advanced to third on a sac bunt and scored on a sac fly by Darlin to make it 2-2. The game remained knotted up until the seventh, when the Fighting Knights pushed across two more runs. An error on a sacrifice bunt gave the Knights a 3-2 advantage. Pallister’s RBI single later in the inning made it 4-2. The Bobcats put two runners on base in the bottom half of the inning, but Kaufman was able to wiggle out of the jam and get the victory for the Knights.

Freshman pitcher Kristi Rodriguez took the loss for the Bobcats, going the distance on the mound. Monroe led the Bobcats at the plate with a pair of hits.

“Our pitchers did pretty well and we had us a big inning there in the first game,” GCSU head coach Ginger Chaffinch said. “We’ve got the potential to hit; it’s just a matter of execution.”

“I see some very positive signs for our team,” Chaffinch added. “We’ve just got to make some better mental decisions and be a little more consistent.”

GCSU’s double-header against Queens on Feb. 10 was pushed back a day due to oncoming inclement weather. The Bobcats will return to action Tuesday at home with a double-header against West Georgia with the first game set for 2 p.m.

Posted by Scotty Thompson on Feb 12 2010. 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