AUGUSTA, Ga. – After dropping their first two Peach Belt Conference games just a day earlier, the Georgia Southwestern Lady Hurricanes were out for revenge as they traveled to Augusta State University to take on the Lady Jaguars. The revenge will be put on hold as the Lady 'Canes were swept for the second time in as many days by scores of 8-4 and 4-1 by ASU.
GAME ONE: Georgia Southwestern-4 Augusta State University-8
Just as they have much of this season, the Lady Hurricanes were able to score in the initial innings of a game. As has been the case with said scoring, Mason Moreland was able to score after opening the game with a lead-off double. The one-run first inning by GSW was answered two-fold by Augusta State in the home half of the first inning.
Coach Ward and company would again take the lead in the third inning when Gabby Buck singled in Moreland. The Lady Hurricanes would load the bases two batters later, and then they would receive back-to-back walks for the second and third runs of the inning. The 4-2 GSW lead would be cut in half by the Lady Jaguars in the bottom of the third via a Kristen Jones RBI single to centerfield.
Two innings later, ASU would take the 5-4 lead after Kristen Jones scored a runner after an error, she was driven in two batters later. The one-run lead would be pushed to four runs in the next inning when Renae Kimbell drove in two base runners and Jessica Thorton walked in a third with the bases loaded. The 8-4 lead would hold up as GSW would not threaten in the seventh inning.
The GSW offense would only tally four hits total in the game, which were recorded by four different hitters (Moreland, Knight, Buck and McElroy). The Hurricane pitchers spread eight hits and eight runs over two of their three pitchers used today. Neither Casey Burns nor Katie Maddox would last more than two and two-thirds innings on the day in the loss.
GAME TWO: Georgia Southwestern-1 Augusta State University-4
After tallying four runs on four total hits as a team, the GSW scoring pace would drop significantly in game two despite recording more total hits. The lone Lady Hurricane run would come on a Janna Anderson RBI single to right field in the second inning. The Lady Jaguars answered with two runs of their own in the home half of the second inning as one runner scored off a Lauren Yearden double and another would score on a GSW defensive error.
The 2-1 ASU lead would increase by one run in each of the next two innings. Molly Walton would come across in the third after being walked by GSW starter Jessica Martin. Heather Hughes would score in the next inning on a Katie Wooten error after hitting a single.
Georgia Southwestern would not answer Augusta State after their lone run in the second inning. The GSW bats would only record two hits over the course of the final five innings while walking one time.
The three Lady Hurricane errors behind starting pitcher Jessica Martin scored only two of ASU's four runs as earned for the senior. The native of Woodstock pitched all seven innings while scattering six hits, walking two and recording four strikeouts.
With her three hits on the day, second baseman Mason Moreland has extended her on-base streak. The sophomore has now reached base in GSW's last twelve games.
The pair of losses sets the Georgia Southwestern record back to 12-14 (0-4 PBC) on the season. The fast and furious week for the Lady Hurricanes will continue with a double header on Saturday, March 17th. GSW will travel to Aiken, South Carolina to take on the USC Aiken Lady Pacers with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.