CLERMONT, FL- A day off did the Georgian Court University softball squad well as the Lions returned to action Thursday afternoon at the NTC Spring Games with come-from-behind victories over Queens College,7-5, and Lake Superior State University,15-12.

GAME ONE

GCU (2-6) fell behind, 2-0, in the first inning against the Knights (0-2), but tied the contest in the bottom of the second frame on a two-run homer to left off the bat of LF Selina Santillo, her first as a Lion. Georgian Court added three more tallies in the third inning and carried a 5-3 advantage into the sixth inning before Queens SS Anniela Vaccaro (So.-Fresh Meadows, NY) launched a two-run shot over the left field fence to tie it at five-all.

The Lions answered right back in the bottom of the frame as RF Melissa DePalma rapped a game-winning, two-run double through the right-center field gap to give GCU a 7-5 lead.

Brooke Hull went the distance to improve to 1-4 on the young season.

DePalma (2-for-3, 2 RBI) and Santillo (2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI) collected multi-hit games while 3B Kelsey Cutler (1-for-3, 2 RBI) and 1B Courtney Cuevas (1-for-3, RBI) provided the other RBI for GCU.

GAME TWO

The nightcap started off poorly for Georgian Court as the Lions fell behind by an 8-1 score to Lake Superior State University after just two innings of play. However, the GCU offense proved that their bats were not mere gimcracks as they exploded for six runs in third inning, three in the fourth and another four tallies in the fifth to take a 14-8 lead.

The Lakers (2-4) did plate four runs over the final two innings, but Hull was able to hang on for her second victory of the day, this time out of the GCU bullpen (6.1 IP, 4 R, 3 ER) and improved to 2-4.

GCU exploded for 17 hits in the game with seven players enjoying multi-hit efforts, including a 3-for-4 (2 R, RBI) performance from Hull.

 The Lakers (2-4) did plate four runs over the final two innings, but Hull was able to hang on for her second victory of the day, this time out of the GCU bullpen (6.1 IP, 4 R, 3 ER) and improved to 2-4.

GCU exploded for 17 hits in the game with seven players enjoying multi-hit efforts, including a 3-for-4 (2 R, RBI) performance from Hull.

2B Rachel Ruch blasted a three-run homer to right in the six-run third inning, her first of the year. DePalma collected her second straight two-hit, two-RBI effort (2-for-4) and  CF Jess Comiskey contributed a 2-for-5 effort in the leadoff  spot with a run and two RBI.

The Lakers fall to 2-4 after beating the Lions by a 13-11 score on Monday.

GCU returns to play on Friday afternoon with contests vs. #18 Rollins College at 3:30 PM and #16 University of Tampa at 5:30 PM.