Myrtle Beach, S.C. - The Georgian Court University softball squad dug its spikes into the dirt for the first time in 2018 Friday as the Lions secured a split with contests vs. Clarion University and Lock Haven University on Day One of the Snowbird Softball Freeze Out.

GAME ONE
For the first time since 2010, the Lions kicked off a campaign with a victory as GCU's bats showed no signs of frostbite in an 11-5 defeat of Clarion.

2017 All-CACC catcher, Samantha Reilly (2-for-4, 3 RBI) picked up right where she left off a year ago as the slugger slammed a two-run home run off a vulnerable vehicle beyond the center field fence to put the Lions ahead immediately in the top of the first frame. 

The Eagles (0-1) countered with a tally in the home half of the inning before Georgian Court added four runs on four hits and two Clarion miscues to take a 6-1 advantage after an inning-and-a-half. A GCU gaffe of their own yielded two runs to make the score 6-3 Lions after two full.

Marissa Trezza (3-for-4, 3 R, 2 RBI) widened the gap for Georgian Court as the sophomore slammed her first long ball of the season to left-center, providing the Lions an 8-3 cushion in the top of the third. 

Clarion's Cassidy Runyan (Jr.-Tarentum, Pa.) added some excitement in the home half of the fifth with a two-run shot over the wall in left-center. This marked the last batter of the day for eventual-winning pitcher, Jessica O'Neil, as the junior permitted five runs (2 ER) on five hits and a strikeout over her 4+ innings of work.

Jennifer Tellefsen (3.0 IP, 9 K, 2 H, 2 BB) entered in relief for the Lions and pitched out of a self-inflicted bases-loaded jam, yielding no runs and striking out the side in each of her three frames to earn the save in her GCU debut.

Elisa Lopez enjoyed a solid initial performance for the victors with a sacrifice fly (2nd inning) and three-run dinger to center in the top of the 7th. Malaya Black (1-for-3, 2 R, RBI) swiped three bags for the Lions in her first collegiate contest.

GAME TWO

After each team plated a run apiece in both the third and fourth frames, Lock Haven snapped the stalemate with three runs on two hits and two GCU mishaps to take a 5-2 lead after five. The Bald Eagles (1-1) added another trio of tallies in the seventh stanza, all courtesy of a Becca Caputo (Jr.-Williamsport, Pa.) long ball, to pad the score and secure the 8-2 triumph.

After her royal relief effort in Game One, Tellefsen got the start in the nightcap and pitched to a no-decision (4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, ER, 2 BB). After collecting the "W" in the opener, O'Neil (1-1) was tagged with the loss after yielding three runs (1 ER) on two hits (1 K) in an inning of relief. 

The Lions pounded out 11 hits in the setback, and 21 overall on the day, but suffered on defense with six crucial errors in the loss.

Black continued to rake with a 3-for-4 effort with the bat. Sister, Malia Black (2-for-4), ripped a pair of hits and stole a base for GCU while Caitlin Hughes posted a 2-for-3 mark in the box score.

The Lions (1-1) now look forward to Saturday when they take on West Virginia State University (10:00 a.m.) and the University of New Haven (12:00 p.m.) on Day Two of the 2018 Snowbird Softball Freeze Out in Myrtle Beach, S.C.