Lakewood, N.J.- The Georgian Court University softball squad earned a pair of key Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) victories, defeating visiting Concordia College by scores of 9-6 and 4-0 Saturday afternoon, as the Lions completed an 8-2 week, which included three twin-bill sweeps.

GCU evened its overall record at 18-18 and improved to 10-4 vs. conference foes. The Clippers saw its record dip to 4-17 (3-9 CACC).

GAME ONE

The Lions took an immediate 1-0 lead in the home half of the initial frame when a Meghan Sfraga single down the left-field line brought in SS Briana Molino, who reached earlier on a fielder's choice. The Clippers answered with their first run in the top of the third, courtesy of a Victoria Vickerman (Fr.-Clinton, Conn.) sacrifice fly.

The GCU offense gave the Lions a seemingly comfortable 6-1 advantage with a five-run, six-hit fourth inning, highlighted by RBI singles from Dara Schroeder and #Justine Mattia and a two-run double to left by Sfraga. Concordia cut the deficit to 6-3 in the fifth after a Theresa Magnani (Sr.-Bethpage, N.Y.) two-run single. 

Georgian Court added another run in the bottom of the fifth on another Schroeder ribbie knock before the Clippers countered with three runs in the top of the sixth to make the score 7-6. A Concordia dropped fly ball and a Taylor McDonough RBI double to left in the bottom of the sixth gave the Lions two crucial insurance runs.

Deanna Deluise improved to 7-6 in the circle for GCU after yielding three runs (3 ER) on seven hits and four walks over 4.2 IP. She also struck out a pair. Senna Francesconi came on to relieve Illana Teran  (2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB) and secure the final out of the contest, solidifying the victory and her team-leading second save of the year.

Sfraga paced the offense with a 3-for-4 effort (4 RBI) while Schroeder (2-for-4, 2 RBI, R, SB), Mattia (2-for-3, 2 R, RBI) and Francesconi (2-for-4, R) each enjoyed multi-hit efforts.

GAME TWO

It was the Tina and Taylor show in the nightcap as Kristina Morgan fired a complete-game shutout and McDonough provided a 2-for-3, two RBI effort at the plate, which included her first home run of the season.

Sfraga put the Lions up 1-0 in the first with her fifth RBI of the day, this time on a single to center. Molino and McDonough provided run-scoring doubles in the third to make it 3-0 GCU. The GCU first baseman provided the final blow in the sixth frame, sending a mighty blast over the left field fence.

Morgan scattered seven hits and walked one en route to her seventh win (7-6) and first shutout of the year. She also struck out four batters.

Georgian Court returns to the diamond Wednesday afternoon with a CACC doubleheader at Goldey-Beacom College. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.