Lakewood, N.J.- The Georgian Court University softball squad found the perfect prescription to its season-starting struggle Tuesday afternoon as the Lions tallied a pair of dramatic walk-off victories over visiting University of the Sciences, 5-4 and 10-9, to snap a nine-game slide and to begin Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) play with a perfect 2-0 start.

GAME ONE

After a scoreless initial frame, the Devils (3-11, 1-3 CACC) attacked first with a run in the top of the second and another pair in the third. A Kelly Hardiman's shot through the middle put the Lions on the board in the bottom of the fourth, but USciences erased that run with another score in the top of the fifth to make it 4-1 visitors.

Trailing by three headed into their final at-bat, GCU struck for four runs on four hits to steal the win in a classic CACC tussle. Meghan Sfraga commenced the inning with a line-drive single through the right side. With the outfield playing in, Dara Schroeder took full advantage of the failed defensive scheme and proceeded to sizzle a screaming line drive off the tip of the right-fielder's glove and sprinted around the bases on the heels of pinch-runner Taylor Boltersdorf for a two-run, inside-the-park homer.

With the score knotted at 2-2, Alyssa Paradiso laced a single through the left side and advanced to second after JoLei Buonanno reached on an error. Paradiso then moved to third on an Alycia Marsello fly ball to right, followed by a Buonanno swipe of second. Hardiman proceeded to take the vacancy at first with a bases-on-balls, which set the stage for #Stefanie Aplin who promptly drilled a liner into the left-center gap and brought home Paradiso and Buonanno to secure the 5-4 triumph.

Abby Merryman (1-3) registered her first "W" on the year in the complete game (7.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K). Cassie Lapotsky (Jr.-Ashland, Pa.) took the loss for the Devils (6.2 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 6 K).

Schroeder (2-for-4) and Paradiso (2-for-3) each smacked a pair of hits for the victors.

GAME TWO

One game of craziness would prove to not be enough as both clubs combined for 19 runs on 18 hits and six errors in the wild night-cap.

Looking for redemption, the Devils took advantage of a hit and two GCU miscues in posting a 3-0 lead after a half-inning of action. The Lions proceeded to raise the stakes a bit in the home half of the frame as GCU (3-17, 2-0 CACC) ripped the lead away from USciences with five runs on four hits. Big-bopper Schroeder lead off the inning with a triple down the right-field line before coming in to score on a Buonanno bunt single.

Hardiman and Stephanie Grainger each clubbed two-run doubles later in the frame to account for the other four tallies.

In a game of tit-for-tat, USciences tied the affair at 5-5 after a two-run double off the bat of LF Jenna Hohenberger (So.-Clementon, N.J.) in the top of the second. Not to be outdone, Georgian Court seemlingly put the game away in the bottom of the second, plating four more runs on four hits to take a 9-5 advantage.

On a day that nothing would come easy, the Devils provided some tension for the Lions with three runs on two hits in the sixth, which included a two-run double by clean-up hitter Brittany Granahan (So.-Maple Shade, N.J.).

Hoping to hang on for the 9-8 winner and a two-game sweep, GCU recorded the initial out of the seventh before Jackie Keifer (Jr.-Aldan, Pa.) drove a double to left-center. A ground out advanced Keifer, leaving the Lions one out short of the clincher. Unfortunately, much-needed warmth (39 degrees) was not meant to be as Grainger booted a Lindsay Regan (Sr.-Old Forge, Pa.) roller at second, scoring Keifer with the tying run.

It would appear that fate would be on the side of GCU this afternoon as the Lions mounted an exhilarating two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh, courtesy of an Aplin single to left and a relief-inducing, game-winning two-bagger down the left-field line by Grainger.

Merryman, in 6.2 innings of relief, earned her second victory of the day (6 R, 4 ER, 6 H, 4 BB, 3 K) while Granahan, also in relief, was saddled with the loss (5.2 IP, 3 R, ER, 5 H, BB, 5 K).

Five Lions collected two hits apiece with Grainger leading the way with her three RBI.

Georgian Court gets right back at it on Wednesday afternoon as the Lions trek to Chestnut Hill College for a 3:00 p.m. twin-bill.