AMERICUS, Ga. -- The Georgia Southwestern softball team defeated the University of West Georgia in both games of their midweek doubleheader on Tuesday night. Both games of the doubleheader were tightly contested battles with the opening game of the day going into extra innings after a late rally by GSW in the seventh tied the game.
The first game of the day was a struggle for the Lady Cane's offense for the first six innings, GSW opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first, and the Lady Canes wouldn't cross the plate again until the bottom of the seventh. West Georgia added runs in the fourth, sixth, and seventh inning to take a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh needed just three outs to secure the victory. Hailey Pinette opened up the seventh with a double to left-center followed up by a Morgan Mullin single up the middle to bring in the first GSW run since the first inning. An Ashlyn Rogers walk and two strikeouts led to a Lacey Rutledge single to left-center that made it a one-run game and set the stage for the Lady Cane's top two hitters, Zoe Willis and Katelyn Wood. Zoe Willis drew a walk loading up the bases for GSW down one run with two outs. Katelyn Wood singled to right field bringing in the pinch-runner Hailey Griffin to tie the game, a game-saving throw by the West Georgia right fielder cut down Lacey Rutledge at the plate taking the game into extra innings. Hannah Holloway took care of business in the top of the eighth allowing the runner placed on second to move to third but no further giving GSW a chance to win it in the bottom of the eighth. Isabel Marcotte bunted to move the runner placed on second to third, and Hailey Pinette bunted to bring the runner home for the win.
In the second game of the doubleheader, both teams' pitching dominated with neither team scoring after the third inning. West Georgia opened up the game and GSW answered in the bottom of the third giving the Lady Canes a one-run lead. Regan Lee held West Georgia up until the seventh, with one out left in the game GSW called onto Trinity Whitfield to close out the final out. Trinity Whitfield forced a groundout to shortstop and the Lady Canes completed the doubleheader sweep.
The Lady Canes will next host Columbus State for a Peach Belt Conference weekend series.
