AMERICUS - The Georgia Southwestern softball team was swept (5-2, 4-0) in a Wednesday afternoon non-conference doubleheader by Columbus State at Lady 'Canes Field.

Nichole Griffin finished the day 2-for-6 to lead Southwestern at the plate. Gabby Buck and Heather Hodge hit solo home runs in Game 1.  

GAME 1: COLUMBUS STATE 5, GSW 2

Columbus State scored three runs in the first two innings and added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh inning to defeat Georgia Southwestern 5-2 Wednesday afternoon at Lady 'Canes Field. 

Both sides smashed a pair of solo home runs to account for four of the combined five runs over the opening three innings.

Gabby Buck hit a two-out home run down the left-field line in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 1-1.

CSU hit the next two home runs as Kristi Bullard helped her own cause as the pitcher began the top half of the second inning with a solo home run. The Lady Cougars hit their second home run of the inning when Morgan Staffins hit another solo home run giving the visitors a 3-1 lead after an inning and a half.

The Lady Hurricanes hit the final home run of the contest in the bottom of the third inning which came off the bat of leadoff hitter Heather Hodge. That brought GSW within one, 3-2 after three innings of play. 

GSW threatened in the fifth inning which began with Hodge hitting a double down the leftfield line and moved up to third on a wild pitch. Mason Moreland then grounded out to third base and Hodge tried to score after the throw to first but was gunned down at the plate for the double play.

Knight hit an RBI triple to left-center field in the seventh for CSU. She would later score on a wild pitch.

Hodge led the Lady Hurricanes going 2-for-3 as she was the only GSW player to have a multi-hit game in the doubleheader. Buck, Nichole Griffin and Katie Maddox also had one hit on the afternoon.

Christie Shankle suffered the loss in her first collegiate start working all seven innings. The righty surrendered five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three.

Bullard picked up the complete game victory for CSU. She allowed two runs on five hits and walked just one hitter in the Lady Cougars' season-opener. She struck out 12 in the contest. 

Knight paced the offense going 2-for-4 scoring a pair of runs and adding an RBI. 

GAME 2: COLUMBUS STATE 4, GSW 0

Southwestern was held to three hits in the nightcap and fell to 1-3 this spring.

The Lady Cougars pushed a run across in the first and third innings before knocking GSW starting pitcher Tiffany Milstid out of the game in the fourth with two more scores.

Columbus State turned three double plays in the game to squash any threat the Lady Hurricanes could pose.

CSU (2-0) starter Kelsey Gilliam earned the complete-game win, walking three and striking out two.

Milstid went 3 1/3 innings in her first appearance of the spring, allowing the four runs on five hits. She hit three batters, walked two and struck out one.

The Lady Hurricanes (1-3) travel to Brewton-Parker on Friday for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.