Lakewood, N.J.- It may have been in the 70's on the thermometer, but it hasn't been just the sun that's making the Georgian Court University softball squad sweat as of late. Coming into Saturday after losing eight of their last 10 outings, the Lions, in unfamiliar territory, are fighting for their postseason lives.

GCU proceeded to show its mettle by securing a crucial split vs. visiting Bloomfield College, ending the afternoon as the #6 seed in the current Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) standings.

The Bears (21-16-1, 11-10 CACC) coasted to a 5-1 win in the opener before Georgian Court (13-27, 12-10 CACC), led by the stellar pitching of Katie Sorochka, blanked Bloomfield by a score of 3-0 in the finale. 

GAME ONE

Single runs in the second, fourth, and seventh and a pair in the sixth provided the Bears a comfortable 5-0 lead heading into the Lions' final at-bat. A two-out RBI single to left-center from Stefanie Aplin spoiled Stephanie Miller's (So.-Temecula, Calif.) shutout bid, but the Bloomfield victory was well in hand.

Miller (9-10) scattered nine hits and walked one (6 K) in the complete-game win. GCU's Abby Merryman (7-11) was saddled with the defeat in the complete-game effort.

Aplin (2-for-4, RBI), Alyssa Paradiso (2-for-4, R) and Bryana Smith (2-for-3) contributed multi-hit efforts for GCU.

GAME TWO

It was all Sorochka in the nightcap as the senior enjoyed her finest outing as a Lion (7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 2 K), improving to 6-10 in the process.  

GCU scored its initial run in the bottom of the first as Dara Schroeder (infield single) bolted home after a Bloomfield wild pitch. The Lions padded the slim lead with another tally in the second after Brianna LaFiura (single to left) scurried in, courtesy of a throwing error off a Schroeder bunt attempt.

The home team made it 3-0 in the fourth inning when pinch-runner Courtney Tylutki touched home on a Schroeder ribbie fielder's choice to first base.

Schroeder finished the contest with a 2-for-4 (R, RBI, 2 SB) performance at the dish.

Kirsten Wilson (So.-Beaver Falls, Pa.) dropped to 12-6 in a start that lasted just 3.1 innings.

Georgian Court will next travel to first-place Caldwell University this Wednesday at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.