AMERICUS, Ga. -- The Georgia Southwestern softball team dropped four midweek games to close out their March slate as losses came from Middle Georgia State and #16 Valdosta State. On Wednesday, March 27th, the Lady Canes lost on Knights Field by scores of 3-1 and 5-1 and returned home Thursday, to take a pair of losses to the Blazers by scores of 6-2 and 10-2 on the Lady Canes field. 

Throughout both days, the Lady Canes had a total of 21 hits and six runs; hitting only two home runs. GSW had rough outings and had trouble getting runs across the plate as they left a 13 players stranded. 

Game 1: GSW 1, MGA 3

In Cochran, Ga., the Lady Canes started early when Tanner Robertson grounded out and picked up an RBI to push Chloe Zoeller across the plate in the top of the first inning and that was the lone score for GSW. Both Hayley Tierce and Lauren Kuerzi picked up a pair of hits in Game 1, as one of Kuerzi hits was a double into the right field. Both teams had a total of five hits but the Lady Canes offense struggled to score runs. Shannon Gibson took her first loss of the season as she gave up five hits and three runs in just two innings pitched. Jennifer Jernigan came in relief, striking out four Knights in four innings pitched to end the game. 

Game 2: GSW 1, MGA 5

The game went scoreless until the third inning when Mackenzy McFarland scored on fielder's choice as they elected to put Tierce out at first base for the 1-0 lead. The Knights returned the favor, scoring on a triple in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 1-1. A double in the bottom of the fifth followed by a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth put the game out of reach for the Lady Canes, who was down 5-1 going into the seventh inning. GSW went three up and three down to end the game. Hayley Dickerson was credited with the lost as she gave up three runs off five hits in four innings pitched. Ansley Dean pitched two innings and striked out three Knights (20-10), but she also gave up one home run and three hits. 

Game 1: GSW 2, VSU 6

Aimee Oglesby hit big in the bottom of the second inning when she homered over the centerfield wall to push Kuerzi, who reached base after being hit by a pitch, across the plate as GSW led 2-0. In the top of the third, a Blazer score made the score 2-1 as they took control after that. After a double, VSU tied the game when Haley Garrett singled up the middle. Garrett made her way around after a sacrifice bunt to eventually make it across the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 3-2 lead. 

The Blazers scored in the top of the sixth and added insurance in the top of seventh with a two-run home run that gave Gibson her second lost of the season. She finished Game 1 striking out and walking two batters each, while giving up eight hits, six runs and one home run. 

Game 2: GSW 2, VSU 10

Similar to Game 1, the Lady Canes started strong with a home run. After a single by Zoeller down the left line, Elizabeth Wills homered over the right field wall in the bottom of the first to give GSW a 2-0 lead early in the game. VSU (22-9) tied the game in the top of the second as Lacey Crandall doubled to pick up an RBI, after Garrett picked up a few stolen bases on an error out in centerfield and ran home. Back-to-back home runs in the top of the fourth inning by the Blazers put them on top, 5-2. VSU went on to score five runs in the top of the fifth inning, making the score 10-2. GSW went out swinging in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game. 

Jernigan picked up her eighth lost of the season, pitching 3.2 innings while giving up four runs and three hits as she struck out a season-high eight Blazers. 

Up Next: GSW (20-16) takes a short trip out to Albany, Ga., where they will play the Golden Rams on April 3 for a 2 p.m. doubleheader start.