Clermont, Fla.- On a day the Florida temperatures peaked at a chilly 52 degrees, the Georgian Court University softball squad's bats were downright toasty as the Lions defeated The College of Saint Rose 9-1 (6 inn.) and Cedarville University (Ohio), 6-5, in a Friday sweep for GCU at the NTC Spring Games. 

After starting the week 0-5, the Lions have now won four consecutive contests (4-5).

GAME ONE

Originally slated for a 9:00 a.m. start, the opening contest of the day was delayed for 90 minutes to repair the diamond after yesterday's heavy rainfall in the Clermont area. Finally taking the field vs. Saint Rose and a scoreless first frame, the Golden Knights (3-5) took a a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, courtesy of an RBI double by DP Zoe DuBois (So.-Burnt Hills, N.Y.).

The Lions responded in the home half of the third after 3B Taylor McDonough blasted a two-run dinger to right (her first on the year) giving GCU a 2-1 lead.

That is how the score would remain until Georgian Court exploded for seven runs on seven hits and two Saint Rose errors in the bottom of the sixth to secure the six-inning triumph. The stanza featured two-run knocks from both DP Kelli Hardiman and 1B Emma Erbig.

Deanna Daluise (2-3) registered her second consecutive victory in the circle, permitting a lone run on four hits and two walks in the complete-game effort. St. Rose's Nicole Wickham (So.-Greenville, N.Y.) was saddled with the defeat, yielding nine runs (7 ER) on 13 hits and five bases-on-balls in 5.2 innings pitched. She also struck out two.

C Meghan Sfraga led the way for GCU with a 3-for-4 (1 run) showing at the dish. Hardiman (2-for-3, 2 RBI, R), McDonough (2-for-4, R, 2 RBI), and Erbig (1-for-3, 2 RBI, R) each recorded two ribbies apiece.

GAME TWO

McDonough continued her power surge in the first inning of the nightcap vs. Cedarville University with her second two-run shot of the day, this time majestically off the scoreboard in right-center field.  The Yellow Jackets responded with two tallies of their own in the bottom of the frame after back-to-back ribbie doubles from 1B Kelsey Chapman (Sr.-Townsend, Del.) and LF Carlyn Hanzel (So.-Sterling, Va.).

SS Briana Molino snapped the 2-2 stalemate in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly to right. McDonough provided Lions with a two-run cushion after gathering her fifth RBI on the day with a single to left. GCU made it a 6-2 surplus with two more runs in the fifth frame after Erbig collected both ribbies on a single to left-center.

Cedarville (10-3) made things interesting with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth and another score in the sixth to get within one, but Abby Merryman held off the Yellow Jackets to earn her first collegiate save (2.1 IP, 2H, 1ER, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K).

Tina Morgan improved to 2-1 on the young season, allowing four runs (4 ER) on seven hits in 4.2 innings of work. The senior also struck out a batter. Jennifer Spann ( (Jr.-Rapid City, Mich.) suffered the loss for the Yellow Jackets, permitting six runs (6 ER) on seven hits in 4.0 IP.

McDonough (2-for-4, R, 3 RBI), Erbig (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Hardiman (2-for-3, 2 R) and CF Dara Schroeder (2-for-3, 3 R) each enjoyed multi-hit efforts for the Lions.

GCU concludes its Florida journey Saturday with games vs. #15 West Virginia Wesleyan (8:00 a.m.) and St. Thomas Aquinas College (12:00 p.m.)