Clermont, Fla.- After escaping a grueling winter in the northeast, the Georgian Court University softball squad finally dug their spikes into the dirt and felt the warmth of sun on their faces as the Lions kicked of their 2014 campaign with two contests Monday morning at the NTC Center Spring Games.

GAME ONE

GCU saw its initial action of the day vs. #20 Grand Valley State University, falling to the Lakers by a score of 3-1.

Drama built immediately for the Lions in the bottom of the first inning as Deanna Daluise (Sr.-Manalapan, N.J.) struck out the side to leave the bases loaded for GVSU to keep the scoreboard blank at 0-0.

The Lions (0-1) struck first in the top half of the third inning after RF Taylor Boltersdorf (Fr.-Levittown, Pa.) and CF Dara Schroeder (Jr.-Bordentown, N.J.) each reached on bunt singles. The speedy duo then initiated a double steal with Boltersdorf coming around to score on a throwing error by the Grand Valley State catcher.

The Lakers (3-2) immediately answered with a pair of runs in the home half of the frame to take a 2-1 lead. RF McKenze Supernaw (So.-Freemont, Mich.) led off the inning and reached on a three-base throwing error by the Lions and eventually scored on a Briauna Taylor (Sr.-Livonia, Mich.) single through the left side. 1B Tonya Calkins (Sr.-North Branch, Mich.) would bring in Taylor with the second tally on a two-out single up the middle.

GVSU added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth after pinch-runner Ali Vander Meer (Fr.-Wyoming, Mich.) scored an unearned run, courtesy of a Calkins single down the left-field line.

Lauren Gevaart (Jr.-Mattawan, Mich.) improved to 1-0 in the circle for the Lakers, permitting just the lone run (0 ER) on four hits, three walks, and a hit batter. The right-hander struck out 14 batters in the complete-game effort.

Daluise (0-1) allowed three runs (0 ER) on eight hits and two free passes in seven innings. The righty also sat five batters down by way of the "K".

Schoreder went 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of bunt singles. SS Briana Molino (Sr.-Williamstown, N.J.) accounted for GCU's other knock.

GAME TWO

In the nightcap, Georgian Court dropped an 8-4 decision to Lewis University (Ill.), courtesy of a seven-run third inning for Flyers (1-5).

The Lions (0-2) plated the first run of the contest in the bottom of the first after Schroeder reached on a bunt single, stole second and third base, and then came in on a ribbie single by Molino. Lewis immediately tied the affair at 1-1 in the top of the second when SS Carly Jaworski (Fr.-Lemont, Ill.) doubled to right-center, advanced third on a ground ball and scored on a GCU passed ball.  

The Flyers broke the game wide open in the top of the third frame, scoring seven runs on six hits and a Georgian Court miscue. Highlighting the inning was a two-RBI single up the middle by Jaworski and a two-run triple by C Brittany Russell (So.-Oswego, Ill.). The Lions responded with a three-spot in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit in half. DP Adriana Cortez (So.-Menifee, Calif.) ripped an RBI single down the right-field line and freshman Kelly Hardiman (Howell, N.J.) smacked a two-run single laser down the left-field chalk to account for the runs.

Kelly Bowler (Jr.-Lockport, Ill.) secured the victory in the circle for Lewis, permitting four runs on eight hits and a hit batter while going the distance. She also struck out nine Lions in the winning effort. Tina Morgan (Sr.- Audubon, N.J.) fell to 0-1 in her first start of the campaign, allowing seven runs (6 ER) on seven hits and two walks in 2.2 innings of work.

Georgian Court returns to work on Monday morning with ballgames vs. Southern New Hampshire University and Walsh University (Ohio), at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.