CLERMONT, FL- The Georgian Court University softball squad secured another key regional victory Friday morning at the NTC Center Games as the Lions knocked off undefeated Kutztown University, 3-2 to improve their record to 8-4 on the year. GCU fell to West Virginia Wesleyan, 11-3, in its first contest of the day.

GAME ONE

The Lions, playing as the visiting squad rapped nine hits, but could not find the timely ones as Georgian Court left nine runners on base in its morning loss to West Virginia Wesleyan. The Bobcats (10-6), did, however as they collected 11 runs on14 hits as West Virginia Wesleyan cruised to the six-inning victory.


Brooke Hull  suffered the defeat in the circle for the Lions as she yielded six runs (6 ER) on seven hits and a walk in 2.1 innings of work. Illiana Teran provided 3.1 innings of relief, permitting five runs (2 ER)on seven hits and a walk. She also struck out one batter.

Jacqueline Omichinski (So.-Abbotsford, BC) went the distance for the Bobcats,allowing three runs (3 ER) on nine hits and three walks. She also struck out three.


CF Dara Schroeder went 2-for-3 with a run scored atop the GCU lineup. RF Selina Santillo (2-for-3) provided an RBI single, as did C Christina Masitti (1-for-1, 2 BB).  Hull went 1-for-3 with an a double and an RBI. SS Ashlynn Thompson (1-for-3) and 1B Jen Tartaglia (1-for-3, 2B) each scored a run.

GAME TWO

In a highly-anticipated contest between east regional foes, the Lions quickly put its game one defeat behind them as they mustered a two-out rally and jumped out to an immediate 3-0 lead over Kutztown in the bottom of the first inning.

2B Rachel Ruch started it off with a single to left-center before being plated on a Hull RBI double to left-center. 3B Kelsey Cutler then worked a walk, followed by Santillo to left-center, which brought around Ruch to score and advanced Cutler to third base. Cutler would later score on a wild pitch by Kutztown starting pitcher Kiersten Cain (Fr.-Bristol, PA) to tally the third run of the frame.       

Hull, getting the start for the second straight contest, kept the Golden Bears (8-1) off the scoreboard until the fourth inning on a RBI single from C Katie Lynch (Jr.-Willow Street, PA) brought home pinch-runner Elizabeth Kangas (Jr.-Douglassville, PA). Kangas substituted 3B Kelly Fitzgerald (Sr.-Upper Darby, PA) after she reached on a double to left-center.

Fitzgerald would pounce again in the top of the sixth with a solo home run to left off Hull, but that would be as close as Kutztown would get.

Hull improved her mark to 5-3 in the circle as she yielded two runs (1 ER) on 10 hits. She did not walk a batter ad struck out four.

Cain was tagged with the defeat for Kutztown (0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB).

Georgian Court concludes its adventure in the Sunshine State Saturday morning when they take on regional opponent Lock Haven University (PA) at 8:30 AM, followed by a game vs. Minot State University (ND) at 10:30 AM.