Softball picks up pair of conference victories

Bobcats split PBC doubleheaders with Francis Marion, Lander, drop pair to Lincoln Memorial

Despite its slow start overall, the Georgia College softball team has picked up a pair of key wins early in its conference schedule.

The Bobcats moved to 2-2 in the PBC and 6-18 overall, as they split a home doubleheader with Lander on March 1.

In the opener, the Bobcats rallied from behind to top the Bearcats 4-3 behind a strong performance from junior pitcher Haley Burnett both on the mound and at the plate.

Kendyl Wade

Junior pitcher Sabrina Chandler delivers a pitch for the Bobcats in their first game against Lincoln Memorial on Feb. 27. The Bobcats lost the game 6-5 and lost the second game 3-1.

It was Burnett’s first victory on the mound. She also went 3-for-3 at the plate and drove in all four runs for the Bobcats.Down 1-0 in their half of the first, Georgia College put together a rally to even the score. Senior rightfielder Kati Pickowitz walked, junior catcher Anna Parker had a bunt single, and Burnett singled up the middle to score Pickowitz and make it a 1-1 game.

Lander retook the lead at 2-1 in the second and held their lead until the fifth when the Bobcats retied the score, as Burnett once again scored Pickowitz with an RBI single.

Trailing once more, 3-2 in the sixth, the Bobcats took a 4-3 lead when Burnett’s single down the leftfield line plated senior second baseman Caitlin Duvall and freshman centerfielder Whitney Okvist to set up the win.

“That was a big win for us,” Head Coach Jamie Grodecki said. “We played really well, and we’re slowly putting stuff together. Consistency is our biggest issue.”

In game two, the Bobcats trailed 1-0 until the bottom of the fourth when freshman first baseman Lindsey Conway’s sacrifice bunt scored Conway to make it a 1-1 game.

Lander, however, took advantage of three consecutive Bobcat errors in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead and hold on for the win.

Junior Sabrina Chandler suffered the hard luck loss on the mound for the Bobcats, allowing only one earned run in seven innings on just four hits while striking out four.

On Feb. 26, Georgia College began its conference schedule by splitting a home doubleheader with Francis Marion.

The Bobcats dropped the first game 8-4 despite three hits and an RBI from Burnett. Francis Marion scored three times in the sixth to gain some breathing room and secure the victory.

In the second game, Georgia College relied on a strong pitching performance from Duvall, who pitched the final five innings in relief of freshman Chelsie Huffman in a 2-1 win.

Okvist led off the first with a single, stole second and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly from Parker to make it 1-0. The Bobcats extended their lead to 2-0 in the second when Conway walked, stole second and scored on an error as junior third baseman Maggie Davis reached on a sacrifice bunt. Francis Marion cut the lead in half in the sixth, but the Bobcats hung on for the victory.

On Feb. 27, the Bobcats dropped a non-conference doubleheader at home against Lincoln Memorial University, 6-5 and 3-1. The Bobcats are back in action this weekend as they travel to Limestone on March 4 and to the Mid-South Classic in Spartanburg, SC on March 5 and 6.

Grodecki said she is trying to stress to the team that the conference record is what really counts.

“Everything up to now has been preparing us for conference play,” she said. “I think that we’ve played well in the conference so far. The games we lost could have gone either way, and it’s usually been one bad inning that’s hurt us. Thus far I think they realize that, and hopefully the games this weekend will help us get everything together.”

Posted by Scotty Thompson on Mar 3 2011. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.