COLUMBUS, Ga. -- The Georgia Southwestern softball team beat Albany State 11-3 during Game 1 but fell to Coker College 4-1 during opening day of the Cougar Classic hosted by Columbus State on Cougar Field. 

Katelyn Wood and Lauren Kuerzi led the Lady Hurricanes as they both hit home runs. Chloe Zoeller finished the day going 6-for-9 with two runs and two RBIs.

Game 1: GSW 11, Albany St. 3

Tanner Robertson got things started in the top of the third inning with a double into right center field. A bunt by Allyson Murdock advanced Robertson but Murdock was called out on the play while attempting to steal first base. Zoeller singled and Jacie Johns followed suit with a RBI bunt that plated Robertson for the first score of the game. With bases loaded, both Wood and Morgam Mullin picked up RBIs when they plated two Lady Hurricanes. Errors by the Golden Ram plated a fourth run and a RBI single by Kuerzi finished the scoring at 5-0. 

The Golden Rams followed with two runs in the bottom of the third but the Lady Hurricanes added three more runs in the top of the fourth that was capped by a home run by Wood into the left field. GSW scored again in the fifth, six and seventh inning as they took the first win of the day. Jennifer Jernigan and Hannah Holloway shared the circle as they combined for nine strikeouts with Jernigan picking up her third win. Five Lady Hurricanes finished the day with two hits while Zoeller led the bunch with three hits while Wood had three RBIs. 

Game 2: GSW 1, Coker 4

Coker started off Game 2 strong against GSW. With bases loaded in the top of the second, Mecki tripled down the right field line to push three of her teammates across the plate for an early 3-0 lead. Coker returned in the top third with a quick home run to extend their lead. In the final inning with hopes of catching back up, Kuerzi sent a bomb over the left field wall to put the Lady Hurricanes on the board for the first time. Murdock was able to reach base with a single but GSW came up empty and couldn't score again. 

Shannon Gibson and Ansley Dean shared the circle but Gibson took the lost as they both finished combined with five strikeouts. 

Up Next: GSW will continue with day 2 of the Cougar Classic as they will play Queens (N.C.) and Union (Tenn.).