FLORENCE, SC (March 2, 2023) - Georgian Court Softball held a pair of late late lead in both ends of Thursday afternoon's doubleheader with Francis Marion, but couldn't hang on in either dropping both to the Patriots. The two losses set the Lions back to 8-6 on the year.

Game 1 - Francis Marion 11, Georgian Court 3 - 6 innings
How it Happened
• Georgian Court took an early 1-0 lead and made that stand until the sixth inning.
• In the end, Francis Marion out-hit the Lions 9-4. They also committed four errors to GCU's two.
• The Lions took advantage of some bad Patriot defense to score their first run as Adriana Mungo came in to score on Alyssa Herrera's fielder's choice.
• GCU added two more in the the second with RBI hits from Mungo and Kiara Meikle and led 3-0 after two.
• That was it for the Lions offense. They managed just one hit the rest of the way.
• With two outs in the third, Francis Marion plated a run with a double followed by an RBI single, getting to within two, 3-1.
• That's the way the score stayed until the sixth inning when the wheels fell off. The Patriots scored 10 runs on six hits and took advantage of a Lions fielding error to end the game after six.
• After a walk and a ground out, Francis Marion put the next 10 on base. The biggest hit a grand slam to make it a 10-3 game. Two batters later and the game was over with a run-rule.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Taylor Lipkins was 2-4 with a run and an RBI.
• Adriana Mungo drove in a run and scored once.
• Savannah Simons reached back three times with a hit and two walks.
• Kiara Meikle walked and stole two bases.
• Janelle Blaszka was cruising through the first 5.1 innings. Her final line included eight runs, two earned with three walks.

For the Patriots
• Makayla Cuthbertson had the big hit, a grand slam and finished 3-3 with two runs and five RBI.
• Danielle Karacson finished 2-4 with two RBI and a run scored. 
• Regan Glanz pinch hit and drove in a pair.
• Jenna Walling pitched all six innings giving up three runs, two earned while striking out three and allowing four hits.

Game 2 - Francis Marion 5, Georgian Court 2
How it Happened
• Georgian Court again went ahead early before the bats fell silent.
• Francis Marion out-hit GCU 8-6.
• Game two was much cleaner defensively with the Lions committing the only error. 
• Taylor Lipkins singled to lead off the game and two batters later, Savannah Simons sent one over the wall in center and GCU took an early 2-0 lead.
• Francis Marion got one back in the home half of the first on a sacrifice fly.
• The score remained 2-1 until the fifth. The Patriots again used the long ball connecting for a two-run shot to take a 3-2 lead. 
• One inning later, a double and a sacrifice fly helped plate two more.
• The Patriots pitching allowed just two hits in the final six innings on their way to a 5-2 win. 

Lion Stat Leaders
• Savannah Simons homered and drove in both runs for the Lions.
• Taylor Lipkins was 2-3 with a pair of stolen bases and a run scored.
• Jadalynn Rodriguez and Adriana Mungo each picked up a hit.
• Maddie Rabe tossed all six innings giving up five runs, four earned on eight hits while striking out four.

For the Patriots
• Danielle Karacson was 1-3 with three RBI and a home run.
• Makayla Cuthbertson reached base twice with a hit and a walk, scored and drove in a run.
• Avery Bellai finished 1-3 with a run scored and a run driven in.
• Rachel Davis pitched a complete game allowing two runs on six hits with five strikeouts.

News and Notes
• Taylor Lipkins surpassed 100 career at-bats. 
• Maddie Rabe's four strikeouts are a season high.
• Adriana Mungo's RBI streak came to an end at nine games.
• A history lesson on Francis Marion, the individual. Also known as the Swamp Fox, Marion was an American military officer, planter and politician who served during the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. During the American Revolution, Marion supported the Patriot cause and enlisted in the Continental Army, fighting against British forces. Marion was considered one of the fathers of guerrilla and maneuver warfare, and his tactics form a part of the modern-day military doctrine of the U.S. Army's 75th Ranger Regiment.

Up Next
• Georgian Court finishes their tour of the Carolina's Saturday afternoon. They play at Barton for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.