Big Bombs at AUM Invitational

Big Bombs at AUM Invitational

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Georgia Southwestern softball team went 3-1, hitting nine total home runs this weekend at the AUM Invitational. They defeated Spring Hill (13-5), Montreat College (8-2) and Talladega College (8-3) with their only lost coming from host Auburn-Montgomery by score of 6-1 at the AUM Softball Complex. 

Kayla Kerr led the Lady Canes, finishing 8-for-14 at bat with a .571 batting average. She had six running base hits, two doubles, two home runs and was walked once. 

[Day 1] Game one: GSW 13, Spring Hill 5

Down 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning, Kerr got the party started with a two run homer as she bombed one away to left field to tie the game at 2-2. Lauren Kuerzi and Aimee Oglesby scored just a few pitches later off a throwing error by first base to push the score up 4-2. Another error in the centerfield pushed Allyson Murdock and Sara Beth King across the plate as Chloe Zoeller put two RBIs under her belt. Zoeller crossed the plate after a single by Briana Bryson. A double by Kerr pushed Bryson across the plate for an 8-2 lead to close the inning. 

Both King and Hayley Tierce doubled in the bottom of the third to push Haley Griffin and King across the plate. A sacrifice bunt by King helped Kerr score in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tierce and Oglesby both homered in the fifth and sixth inning, respectively, as that gave GSW the 13-5 score. Jennifer Jernigan gave up eight hits with 3.2 innings pitched and had 4 strikeouts for the win. 

Game two: GSW 1, AUM 6

Hosts Warhawks made it a tough game two for the Lady Canes as Oglesby led with two hits and one RBI. Down 6-0, Oglesby singled to the center field to push Mackenzy McFarland across the plate for their lone score of the night. Hayley Dickerson and Ansley Dean shared the mound with Dickerson taking the loss to end day one of the AUM Invitational. 

AUM's Chanel Newcomer pitched a full game, handing out 10 strikeouts, one run and two hits. 

[Day 2] Game three: GSW 8, Montreat College 3

The Lady Canes were scoreless until Tierce got the home run party started in the top of the fourth with a homer into the left field. Kuerzi followed right behind, with a two run homer also to the left that brought Kerr home. King was next up with another homer to the left that gave GSW a 4-1 lead at the end of the inning. 

At the top of the fifth with Tierce on base, Kerr sent one over the wall into the left field to push the score up two notches. A single by Zoeller pushed Murdock across the plate at the top of the sixth to give the Lady Canes the 8-3 victory. 

Jernigan pitched five innings, had four strikeouts and gave up two runs but the win was given to Dickerson; who gave up one run and had two strikeouts. 

Game four: GSW 8, Talladega College 2

GSW ended the invitational on a high note, scoring in five of the seven innings played. Kuerzi and King each had RBIs as they pushed Kerr and McFarland across the plate in the top of the second to give GSW a 2-1 lead. A double by Kerr advanced Tierce to third while Zoeller put another point on the board. On the next hit, McFarland singled to the left field, as she got an RBI when Tierce scored. 

At the top of the fourth, Zoeller got an RBI when Griffin crossed the plate for a 5-1 score. Bryson scored to end the fourth inning with a third-base error. In the following inning, Murdock's double into the left lifted the score to 7-1 as she assisted Tanner Robertson with the score. King ended the game with a single RBI as she hit a bomb over the left field for the 8-1 final. Madason Messer gave up three hits and had for strikeouts in five innings pitched to get her first victory of the season. 

Up Next: The Lady Canes (4-2) will compete in the Cougar Classic, hosted by Columbus State University, February 16-17. They will take on Embry-Riddle (Fla.), Albany State and Union (Tenn.).