Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Leesburg, Fla.- The Georgian Court University softball team, after a refreshing off day, returned to action Thursday evening ready to go as the Lions secured their first victory of the season in game one of the night, earning a 5-2 victory over Stonehill College. GCU experienced an ebb and flow of emotions in the nightcap, eventually dropping a 6-5,eight-inning heartbreaker to Urbana University (Ohio).

GAME ONE

GCU would immediately have to play comeback softball in the opener as the Skyhawks (1-12) opened the contest with a pair of first-inning runs, courtesy of RBI singles from 1B Erin Brayden (Jr.-Saco, Maine) and  DP Michelle Carbone (Sr.-Deer Park, N.Y.).

The Lions retaliated in the home half of the initial frame as a double off the bat of 3B Marissa Trezza brought around RF Lindsey Fischbach (single) and C Samantha Reilly (single) to knot the score at 2-2. GCU would proceed to plate single tallies in the third, fourth, and sixth frames, highlighted by ribbie two-baggers from Trezza and 2B Cassandra Varvaro, to secure the Lions' first victory in the Sunshine State since March 6, 2015 vs. Notre Dame College (Ohio).

After some brief turbulence, Jessica O'Neil (1-3) piloted the Lions through six shutout innings to earn the complete-game victory for GCU, permitting just the two runs (2 ER) on six hits and a walk (2 K). Stonehill starter, Katherine Rayner (Fr.-Milton, Vt.), was saddled with the loss (2.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, K).

Trezza's 3-for-3 (2 RBI) performance with the bat topped the GCU offense while Reilly went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

GAME TWO

Carrying the momentum of its game one success, Georgian Court (1-7) pounced first with a 1-0 lead in the first inning vs. Urbana (Reilly single). The Blue Knights countered in the home half of the second as a Mykee Holtz (Fr.-Springfield, Ohio) first-pitch long ball to dead center tied the contest at 1-1.

GCU pulled ahead, 3-1, in the top of the third after a Fischbach two- run single through the middle plated both SS Samantha Salomon (hit-by-pitch) and LF Bryana Smith (E-9) for the surplus. Urbana (3-5) responded with a pair in the bottom of the fourth, courtesy of a two-run single down the left-field line by Courtney Stewart (Sr.-Zanesfield, Ohio).

The two foes provided competing power displays in the fifth inning as Fischbach launched her second dinger as a Lion, followed by a Margo Jackson (Jr.-Rossford, Ohio) in the home half of the frame.

With the scored tangled at 4-4, two empty innings followed, forcing free softball for the Florida fans. With Varvaro placed at second base to commence the eighth inning, a Salomon single and a Fischbach sacrifice fly brought around the second baseman to give GCU a slim 5-4 lead.

Urbana, starting with SS Cailtlyn Stoner (Sr.-Mount Gilead, Ohio) on second, advanced the runner with a sacrifice bunt before plating the tying run on a Briana Bamber (Jr.-Porterville, Calif.) single. Holtz, who previously walked and stole second base, advanced to third on the base hit.

With the winning run on third and one out, Courtney Kennedy (Jr.-East Canton, Ohio) laid down a suicide squeeze bunt. O'Neil, who relieved GCU starting pitcher, Taylor Baloga with two outs in the fourth inning, frantically flipped the slow roller to catcher Stephanie Torrence, who was unable to slap the tag in time on the sliding Holtz. 

Carly Allen (Fr.-Waynesville, Ohio) earned the win for the Blue Knights with 4.2 innings of relief work (2 R, ER, 3 H, 2 K). O'Neil falls to 1-4 after suffering the tough-luck loss (3.2 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 K).

Fischbach carried the Georgian Court offense with her four RBI.

The Lions take to the field again on Friday with contests slated versus the University of Bridgeport (3:30 p.m.) and Northern State University (6:00 p.m.).