By CHRIS WHITAKER
The Americus Times-Recorder
AMERICUS - The defense wasn't present for Georgia Southwestern's softball series with West Georgia on Thursday.
The Lady Hurricanes had a couple errors that led to a seven-run inning in the first game, and they had four more that led to the tying runs and go-ahead run in the second as they lost 8-2 and 7-6.
Coach Eddie Ward had no comment other than "Tiffany Milstid pitched exceptionally well in the second game."
GSW (2-4) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of Game 2 on a Gabby Buck two-run home run over the left field fence. West Georgia tied it in the top of the second with a two-run shot of its own.
The Lady Hurricanes took a 6-3 lead entering the fifth inning when the Lady Wolves tied the game thanks in part to three errors. Milstid left the game in the sixth.
Then in the seventh after a leadoff walk, a sacrifice bunt turned into the game-winning run. The ball was thrown into the right field, it was bobbled, and the runner scored from first.
West Georgia took a 7-2 lead in the first game of the day in the fourth after two errors aided the inning.
The Lady Hurricanes committed two errors that aided a seven-run fourth inning of Game 1 as the Lady Wolves took an 8-2 win.
GSW scored its two runs in the first inning on a Buck RBI-double and a Brooke McLemore RBI-single.
Kaley Sullivan's two-run home run started the fourth, and after Ashley West's RBI-double plated the go-ahead run, things went downhill fast for the Lady Hurricanes.
With the bases loaded, Katie Mueller entered the game for Mariko Nomura. West Georgia drew a bases-loaded walk and used two errors and a wild pitch to take a 7-2 lead.
The Lady Hurricanes had nine hits led by Cherrelle Pullen, who had two. GSW left 10 on base, including three in the sixth and two in the seventh.
Nomura (1-2) took the loss, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing six runs on seven hits. Mueller pitched the final 3.1, allowing two runs on three hits.
Sullivan was 2-for-3 with three RBI, and Criss Rainwater was 2-for-3 for West Georgia.
The Lady Hurricanes open conference play this weekend with trips to Francis Marion on Saturday and UNC-Pembroke on Sunday.