AMERICUS - It seems only fitting that on Senior Day, senior pitchers Katie Mueller and Tiffany Milstid held the Lander softball team without an earned run over two games, senior outfielder Nichole Griffin went 3-for-6 with two RBIs and senior infielder Heather Hodge turned in another pair of error-free performances at second base, leading Georgia Southwestern to a doubleheader sweep of the Bearcats on Sunday afternoon. The Lady Hurricanes won Game 1, 2-1, and took the nightcap, 3-2.
GSW improves to 22-26 overall and 6-12 in the PBC, while Lander dips to 19-18, 4-10. The 22 wins by the Lady Hurricanes are the most since 2006, when the program was a member of the NAIA. The six PBC wins are also the most by the program in its NCAA era.
In the opener, Lander took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Brittney Sheriff scored on a wild pitch.
GSW scored both its runs in the third on Griffin's RBI double that brought home Mason Morleand and Gabby Buck.
Mueller (4-2) retired the final 15 batters in order, stuck out one and allowed one unearned run on four hits to earn the complete-game win.
Hayley Leissner (12-12) took the loss, while striking out eight, walking five and allowing two runs - one earned - on three hits in six innings pitched.
In Game 2, The Lady Hurricanes made it 1-0 in the first inning when Moreland scored on a throwing error, then stretched the lead to 2-0 in the second on Buck's sacrifice fly that plated Lyndi Duff.
The Bearcats tied the game at 2-2 in the third when Chasity Davis' single sent Sheriff home and Jaime Presnell crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
Griffin scored what proved to be the winning run for GSW when she advanced home on Duff's RBI single in the third inning.
Milstid (2-1) picked up the win after striking out three, walking four and giving up one unearned run on six hits in the complete-game effort. She retired seven-straight batters to close the ballgame.
Lander's starter M.K. Pegram (4-4) suffered the loss after striking out two, walking two and allowing two earned runs on six hits in three innings pitched.
Griffin, Duff and Hayley Knight turned in 2-for-3 performances at the plate in Game 2 for the Lady 'Canes. Griffin and Duff each scored a run. Duff added an RBI.
For Lander, Presnell batted 2-for-4 with one run scored.
Southwestern travels to Columbus State on Thursday to wrap up the regular season.