AMERICUS, Ga. - The Georgia Southwestern Lady Hurricanes opened their 2013 home slate with a split against 13th ranked Rollins College Saturday afternoon winning the first game in thrilling fashion, 3-2, while dropping the second in an equally close contest, 2-3.
Game 1: GSW 3, Rollins 2
GSW was first on the board as Ashley Clifton hit a second-inning lead off home run to put the Lady 'Canes up 1-0 over the Tars.
The Blue & Gold held the advantage going into the sixth inning when Rollins rallied as the Tars scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 2-1 advantage.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Southwestern's back directly against the wall, the Lady Hurricanes responded.
Janna Anderson reached base on a single to center field while Rachel McElroy followed with a single of her own, advancing Anderson to third.
Shelley Sweatt loaded up the bases when the sophomore reached base on a walk leaving the late game heroics to sophomore Kiley Doster.
Doster came through in the clutch, singling to left field, scoring the game-winning two runs as Georgia Southwestern (5-2) notched the come-from-behind upset victory, 3-2.
The Lady Hurricanes notched six hits, five coming in the final two innings.
Clifton hit her second home run on the season and Doster paced the team with two RBIs.
GSW starter Allison Pastor (3-1) picked up her third straight victory as the junior tossed a complete game, allowing two hits on 10 runs.
Rollins (8-1) dropped their first game of the season as starting pitcher Stephanie Sullivan (4-1) gave up 3 runs on 6.2 innings of work.
Game 2: Rollins 3, GSW 2
The second game of the doubleheader followed in much of the same fashion as the first but this time GSW finished on the losing end of a close, 3-2 contest.
Georgia Southwestern once again got on the scoreboard first as a Rachel McElroy's RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the second inning scored Avery Purser to give the Lady Hurricanes a 1-0 advantage.
Rollins tied up the contest in the top of the fifth inning when Kristie Hoeffer drove in a run off a RBI double to center field tying the contest, 1-1.
GSW responded when Mason Moreland scored in the bottom of the fifth inning off an Ashley Clifton RBI single as the Lady Hurricanes went ahead, 2-1.
Much like in the opening contest, the trailing team rallied to take the victory, although this time GSW was on the other end as Rollins made a late game rally.
The Tars scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning to pull ahead and used strong pitching the rest of the way to secure the 3-2 victory to ensure the two-game split on the day.
Southwestern (5-3) was led by Avery Purser's two hit performance as the Lady 'Canes had five on the contest.
GSW pitcher Erin Vick (1-2) took the loss as the sophomore tossed 5.2 innings and gave up three runs on six hits.
Niki Fogle (4-0) secured the win for Rollins (9-1) as the freshman threw a complete game allowing two runs on five hits.
The Lady Hurricanes will be back in action on Sunday, Feb. 10, at Lady 'Cane Field for a doubleheader against West Georgia. The first pitch set for 2 p.m. with the second following at 4 p.m.