AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The Georgia Southwestern State University softball team came back from a 2-1 walk-off loss in game one to defeat Augusta 4-2 in game two and split a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader at Jaguar Field Friday.
Madason Messer threw all 14 innings for the Lady Canes, giving up just two earned runs while striking out nine to earn her seventh win of the season as GSW improved to 16-21 overall and 5-5 in PBC play.
Augusta sits at 11-23 this spring and 3-7 in the Peach Belt after the split with GSW.
How It Happened:
Game 1: Georgia Southwestern 1 Augusta 2
Augusta starter Morgan Hunter held the Lady Canes off the scoreboard for the first four innings, giving up just two hits until the Lady Canes broke through in the fifth. After a pop out to start the inning Graysen Sandrews drew a walk and moved to second on a Chloe Zoeller single, before coming around to score on a Mikela Barlow double to left center that gave GSW a 1-0 lead.
That lead held up for Messer all the way to the seventh when the Jaguars got their bats going. Back to back singles from Carolyn Edwards and Cassie Blizzard put runners on first and second to start the inning and an error at second base let the first run score to make it a 1-1 game. A fielder's choice loaded the bases before Kendyl Conner hit the walk-off single to shortstop that scored pinch-runner Lydia Hausman for the 2-1 victory.
Hunter improved to 8-11 on the season with the win after allowing one earned run on five hits. Messer fell to 6-3, giving up two runs and one earned on four hits while striking out five.
Zoeller went 2-for-3 at the plate for GSW. Hayley Tierce and Lauren Kuerzi each recorded singles.
Game 2: Georgia Southwestern 4 Augusta 2
After Augusta scored an unearned run in the first to take an early lead the Lady Canes answered in the second. Sanders singled to start the inning and moved to second with one out on a Cassidy Burton sacrifice bunt. Zoeller followed with a single allowing Sanders to reach third and she scored on a Barlow single to make the score 1-1 after 1 ½ innings of play.
The Jaguars retook the lead in the third when Edwards singled and Hausman followed with a double down the left field line to make it 2-1, but that was the last time Augusta could get their offense going.
GSW got their bats going in the fifth, thanks to two consecutive one-out singles from Barlow and Tierce to put runners on first and second. After a fielder's choice put runners at the corners with two outs, Elizabeth Wills hit an RBI double to right center and Shannon Gibson reached on an error that allowed the second run to score making it 3-2.
The Lady Canes added insurance in the sixth thanks to a pinch-hit solo home run to right field from Allee Denney, her first of the season, to make it 4-2. That was all Messer would need as she worked around a walk in the bottom half and retired the side in order in the seventh to secure the win.
Wills had three hits in four at bats for GSW while both Barlow and Tierce went 2-for-4 in game two.
Up Next: The Lady Canes have the weekend off before returning to action Wednesday with a nonconference doubleheader at Auburn-Montgomery. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. with the second game to follow at 5:00.