YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. - Georgia Southwestern traveled to Young Harris, Ga. Saturday afternoon looking to extend a four-game winning streak and further enhance their position to earn a spot in the Peach Belt Conference post-season tournament.
GSW held on to a late lead in the first contest of the day but failed to capture the sweep as Young Harris rallied to pull out a thrilling 3-2 decision in the second game.
On the day, Janna Anderson led Georgia Southwestern's offense as the senior went 3-for-6 with 2 RBI.
Game 1: GSW 5, YHC 4
Both teams started off slow offensively as the two teams combined for just three hits and failed to light up the scoreboard through the first three innings of play.
GSW's Nellie Moore broke the offensive ineptitude in the top of the fourth inning on a lead-off home run, her fifth of the season, to put the Lady 'Canes on the board.
Southwestern added to its slim lead in the fifth inning, scoring four runs off two hits to give GSW the 5-0 advantage. The inning was highlighted by a Janna Anderson double down the left field line that drove in a pair of runs.
Young Harris (23-22, 5-12 PBC) rallied late, scoring four runs in the final two innings, but Georgia Southwestern (27-22, 9-10 PBC) held on to capture their fifth-straight victory, 5-4.
GSW's starting pitcher Allison Pastor (13-7) earned her third win in a row as the junior threw a complete game allowing four runs off nine hits with a pair of strikeouts for the Lady 'Canes.
Game 2: YHC 3, GSW 2
Similar to the first game, both teams were slow in getting their offense going as the game was scoreless through the first three innings of play.
But unlike the first contest, Young Harris was the one to use the long ball to rev up their offense as the Mountain Lions were the first to strike when Kayla Jones hit a solo blast in the fourth inning to put YHC on the board first.
Southwestern's bats woke up in the fifth inning as the Lady 'Canes countered their first deficit of the day by scoring a pair of runs off two hits to pull ahead, 2-1.
Southwestern (27-23, 9-11 PBC) held the slim one-run advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh inning but unlike the first game, Young Harris' rally wouldn't be denied.
Playing on their last out of the game, the Mountain Lions delivered a single from senior Jen Spradling that drove in the the game-tying run quickly followed by the game-winning RBI-single from Amber Stratham as Young Harris (24-22, 6-12 PBC) went on to earn the come-from-behind victory in thrilling fashion to earn the split on the day.
GSW's starting pitcher Ashley Cavender (9-10) was credited with the loss as the sophomore allowed three runs off seven hits while striking out three for the Lady 'Canes.
Georgia Southwestern will return to action tomorrow as the Lady 'Canes travel to Dahlonega, Ga. for a PBC doubleheader starting at 2 p.m against sixth-ranked North Georgia.