TUCSON, Ariz. (Feb. 17, 2023) - After a bit of a delay, Georgian Court Softball finally took the field for the first time in 2023. Playing at the Tucson Invitational Games in Tucson, Ariz. GCU went 1-1 on the first day.

Game 2 - Georgian Court 11, Simon Fraser 6
How it Happened
• Georgian Court collected 14 hits in the game and took advantage of six Simon Fraser errors.
• The Lions scored at least one run in all seven innings.
• Four of the Lions 14 hits went for extra bases. They also stole five bases and drew two walks.
• The Lions were off and running in the first getting an RBI double from Savannah Simmons and a two-RBI single from Kili Makanani.
• The Red Leafs responded right away as Kristen Davyduke tied the game with a three-run home run in the home half of the first.
• GCU regained the lead in the second getting an RBI from a Jadalynn Rodriguez single. She later came around to score on an error for a 5-3 lead.
• In the third it was Rodriguez again singling home Alyssa Herrera and then scoring her second run on a single from Taylor Lipkins.
• Davyduke drove in two more runs in the third with a single cutting the lead down to 7-5. 
• The two teams traded runs in the fourth. GCU tacked on single runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh with RBIs coming from Kaitlyn Stufft and Taylor Barraza.
• Simon Fraser just had one hit in the final three innings as the Lions picked up their first win of the season.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Jadalynn Rodriguez finished 3-4 scoring three times and driving in two runs with two stolen bases.
• Taylor Lipkins and Savannah Simmons each had two hits and an RBI.
• Kili Makanani drove in a pair with a single.
• Alyssa Herrera stole two bases and scored twice.
• Sarah Clancy picked up the win throwing five innings allowing a run on four hits with five strikeouts.

For the Red Leafs
• Kristen Davyduke drove in five of the Red Leafs runs with a single and a home run.
• Caitlin Zagari had two hits and two runs scored.
• Megan Duclos picked up two hits, stole a base and scored twice.
• Abby McGlynn had two hits, an RBI and a run scored.
• Shaneika Hollingsworth tossed the first four innings giving up eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits with two walks and two strikeouts. 
• Reese Davies came on in relief to throw three innings allowing three runs, two earned on five hits. 

Game 1 - Mercyhurst 8, Georgian Court 6
How it Happened
• Mercyhurst outhit the Lions 15-9, scoring in five of seven innings.
• The Lions committed a pair of errors which led to two unearned runs.
• Mercyhurst scored in each of the first four innings, going ahead 4-0 and then 6-1.
• An Adriana Mungo sacrifice fly got the Lions on the board in the third as Taylor Lipkins who singled to lead off the inning came around to score.
• The Lions got closer in the fourth with Alyssa Herrera and Jadalynn Rodriguez each driving in runs, cutting the deficit in half to 6-3.
• A two-out RBI single from Jayda Jones in the fifth made it a 6-4 ball game as Sam Hildebrandt hurled scoreless fifth and sixth innings. 
• In the home half of the sixth, GCU put the first three batters on base, loading the bases with nobody out. Lipkins drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Mungo tied the game at six with a single.
• The Lions still had two on and one out, but couldn't bring the go-ahead runner in.
• Tied in the seventh, five straight Lakers reached base as they plated a pair of runs for an 8-6 lead.
• In the bottom of the innings, the Lions went down in order giving Mercyhurst an 8-6 win. 

Lion Stat Leaders
• Jayda Jones knocked a pair of hits including a double and drove in a run.
• Adraina Mungo picked up two RBI with a single and a walk.
• Taylor Lipkins finished 1-3 with an RBI, run scored, and two stolen bases.
• Alyssa Herrera had a hit and an RBI.
• Sam Hildebrant threw five innings giving up four runs on nine hits.

For the Lakers
• Allison Dejidas went 4-5 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run scored.
• Brianne Egelston scored twice with two hits. 
• Anna O'Geen picked up three singles and scored twice.
• Morgan Hilty got the win throwing six innings giving up three runs on six hits with four strikeouts.

News and Notes
• Alyssa Herrera played in her 100th career game and took her 300th at bat in game one.
• Taylor Lipkins picked up career hit number 25 and scored her 25th career run.
• Georgian Court stole eight bases on the first day of the season. 
• GCU batters did a good job making contact, striking out just seven times in 62 at bats. 

Up Next
• The Lakers play two more tomorrow, Feb. 18 taking on Western Oregon and Franklin Pierce. Game times are scheduled for 2 and 4 p.m. ET.