LAKEWOOD, NJ (April 12, 2023) - Georgian Court Softball played for the first time in eight days, getting back on the field against the newest member of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, Bridgeport. After taking a late lead, Bridgeport tied the game in the seventh then won in eight before GCU was able to get revenge with an 11-3, six-inning win in game two. GCU now stands at 22-14 overall and 6-4 in the CACC.

Game 2 - Georgian Court 11, Bridgeport 3 - 6 Innings.
How it Happened
• The Lions pounded out 14 hits including five extra-base hits. Bridgeport totaled eight in game two with three going for doubles.
• The Lions swiped four bases, taking the extra base every chance they could while Bridgeport stole just one.
• Each team made an error in the field but the Purple Knights error allowed four unearned runs to score.
• Three straight extra-base hits plated the Lions four runs in the first. Kaitlyn Stufft doubled followed by a Savannah Simons triple and a Jayda Jones double. Brittany Gable's single made it 4-0 after one inning.
• Jones came through with another RBI in the second, a bases loaded single brought home Adriana Mungo and that drove Erin Lifrieri out of the game.
• Bridgeport started to come back getting two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth. The first two came on the ground while Missy Daigneault doubled to bring the Purple Knights within two.
• Once Lifrieri departed, Bridgeport went to game one starter Vase Zarate. She retired nine straight at one point, but after throwing more than 120 pitches in game one and nearing 200 on the afternoon, fatigue started to set in.
• She got the first two outs in the fifth and should have been out of the inning, but a dropped throw allowed Coco Dunham to reach and the inning continued. Things unraveled from there as the next four Lions all picked up hits. Gable, Jordan Mendolla, Jadalynn Rodriguez and Taylor Lipkins all had RBI hits to push the Lions lead to six, 9-3.
• Janelle Blaszka worked around a one-out single in the top of the sixth and the Lions walked it off in the bottom of the inning.
• Stufft and Simons led off with singles. A wild pitch allowed pinch runner Lia DeMaio to score and Simons, who was running on the pitch, moved all the way to third. Now with one out, Gable laid down a perfect bunt and the flip home was too late to get Simons who scored the game-ending run.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Brittany Gable led the Lions going 3-for-4 with three RBI.
• Jayda Jones doubled as part of a 2-4 day with a run and two RBI.
• Savannah Simons reached three times with two hits, including a triple, a walk and scored twice.
• Kaitlyn Stufft was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
• Taylor Lipkins singled, doubled, stole a base, scored a run and drove one in.
• Janelle Blaszka pitched all six innings allowing three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts.

For the Purple Knights
• Meg McFarland was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
• Hailey Kim singled twice and drove in a run.
• Angela Oros doubled and scored a run.

Game 1 - Bridgeport 6, Georgian Court 4 - 8 Innings
How it Happened
• This was a back-and-forth game with both teams taking late leads.
• Bridgeport finished the game with 14 hits, five for extra bases. The Lions managed eight hits with six singles. They also drew four walks.
• Each team left eight runners on base. 
• The Purple Knights got the first two on to start the game and Taylor Yates drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly.
• Each team threatened in the second with the first two Lions reaching base, but neither could bring in a run.
• Bridgeport plated a run in the fourth with a two-out RBI single from Madison D'Amato. They made it 3-0 an inning later with another two-out RBI, this time a double from Alex Hughes for a 3-0 lead.
• Georgian Court missed another opportunity in the fourth. They again put the first two runners on base but a strikeout and a pair of ground balls ended the inning.
• The Lions tied things in the home half of the fifth. With two outs and the bases loaded, a wild pitch scored Taylor Lipkins and with the tying run in scoring position, Jayda Jones came through with a clutch two-out, two-RBI, game-tying double that fell just in front of the diving left fielder.
• An inning later the Lions took their first lead when Jadalynn Rodriguez doubled home Alyssa Herrera with the go-ahead run.
• Three outs away from a comeback win, Taylor Yates had other ideas. Her drive down the left field line stayed just inside the foul pole to tie the game at four.
• The Lions went in order in the bottom of the inning and we went to the eighth.
• Bridgeport led off with a double and following a sacrifice bunt, an infield single gave the Purple Knights a 5-4 lead. They added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly and while GCU got the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, could not score as Bridgeport took the doubleheader opener 6-4.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Jayda Jones went 2-3 with a double and an RBI.
• Jayalynn Rodriguez singled, doubled and drove in a run.
• Kaitlyn Stufft reached base three times with a single and two walks. She also scored.
• Taylor Lipkins and Alyssa Herrera each had a hit and scored.
• Maddie Rabe pitched all eight innings throwing 117 pitches. She allowed six runs on 14 hits.

For the Purple Knights
• Vase Zurate needed 144 pitches to get through all eight innings. She allowed four runs on eight hits with four walks and four strikeouts.
• Madison D'Amato finished 3-5 with a double, RBI and run scored.
• Grace Derita was 3-3 with two runs.
• Taylor Yates drove in a pair.

News and Notes
• The extra-inning game one was the Lions first extra-inning game at home since April 4, 2019. That was an 8-7 win over Holy Family.
• Taylor Lipkins stole her 50th career base. Just the sixth Lion to ever do that.
• Savannah Simons took her 100th career at bat.
• Brittany Gable collected career hit and run number 30.
• Both games lasted a combined 4:35. 

Up Next
• This is doubleheader one of four for the Lions this week and the only one at home. Tomorrow they are on the road at Felician in a game that has twice been rescheduled. First pitch of the double-dip is scheduled for 2 p.m.