Lakewood, N.J.- The Georgian Court University softball squad, returning from a 3-9 showing at the NTC Games in Clermont, Florida, seemed to have craved the frigid temperatures of the northeast to build some positive mojo as the Lions secured two thrilling comeback victories vs. visiting UMass-Lowell Wednesday afternoon at GCU Field.

The Lions mounted a ferious comeback, after falling behind 10-1 in Game One, and rattled off 10 unanswered runs to solidify a dramatic 11-10, walk-off triumph. It was deja vu in the nightcap when GCU squashed a 3-0 Riverhawks advantage to secure a 6-5 win, this time in eight innings.

GAME ONE

UML (2-8) scored all 10 of its runs in the first three frames, including an eight-run, five-hit explosion in the third inning. Georgian Court (5-9) made its initial splash with five runs in the bottom of the fourth, courtesy of two-run singles from 2B Justine Mattia and 3B Taylor McDonough, to make the score 10-6. A three-run double from Mattia in the fifth made it 10-9, which set the stage for McDonough, who secured the epic victory with a two-run, game-winning single that left UML standing on the field.

Mattia (3-for-4, 2 R) and McDonough (3-for-5) drove in five runs each, which accounted for all 10 Georgian Court RBI. CF Dara Schroeder (1-for-4) came around to score on three seperate occasions as did LF #Alyssa Paradiso (3-for-3).

Kristina Morgan  improved to 3-4 on the season with 4.1 innings of relief (6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K). Marielle Handley (Fr.-Durham, Conn.) was the the tough-luck losing pitcher for UML (2.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R,1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K).

GAME TWO

The Riverhawks grabbed an immediate 2-0 lead to start the nightcap after a UML sacrifice fly and a RBI single. The two clubs proceeded to exchange a run each in the fourth, fifth, and sixth frames to make the score 5-3 Riverhawks.

UML looked to close the door on the Lions and salvage a split heading into the bottom of the seventh frame. The GCU bats had other plans as Senna Francesconi, who entered the game in the top of the inning as a defensive replacement in right field, smashed a two-out, RBI liner off the glove of Handley to make it 5-4. C Meghan Sfraga (2-for-3, 2 RBI) then proceeded to provide the tying blow, a ribbie single through the left side.

After the Lions denied UML in the top of the eighth, Mattia (2-for-5, R) provided her sixth RBI of the day when she brought in Vanessa Flores (1-for-3, 2 R) (fielder's choice) to put GCU's second walk-off win in the books.

Schroeder smashed three hits, including a double. SS Briana Molino (2-for-4) and Paradiso (2-for-3, R) also provided multi-hit efforts.

Deanna Daluise (1-3) earned her first GCU win out of the bullpen (4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB). Hardley had the misfortune to lose both ends of the doubleheader, going the distance in the effort (7.2 IP, 15 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 B, 5 K).

GCU, winners of three straight, return to action Friday afternoon with a home non-conference double dip with Le Moyne College. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.