WILMINGTON, Del. (May 11, 2023) - Georgian Court Softball put themselves into the winners bracket on day one of the NCAA Regional Tournament. The Lions handled their business as the number three seed taking on No. 6 Franklin Pierce and started their tournament run with a 4-3 win. 

How it Happened
• Georgian Court outhit the Ravens 8-2 in the game with half of their hits going for doubles.
• Franklin Pierce managed just two singles but were helped out by three Georgian Court errors and four walks. Of the three runs Georgian Court allowed, only one was earned.
• Both teams left six runners on base. 
• These were two of the top base-stealing teams in the country. Franklin pierce held the edge there, 4-1.
• The scoring started early for Franklin Pierce. They put up two in the top of the first. The game started with a leadoff walk and after a lineout, a hit-by-pitch put runners on first and second. A double-steal attempt brought a run in when Adriana Mungo's throw to third bounced passed Savannah Simons and into the outfield. 
• An infield single brought in the Ravens second run. It could have been even more, but a double play lineout ended the inning.
• Georgian Court got going in the second. Simons led off ringing a double off the wall in left center. Taylor Barraza's low liner fell in for a hit and got passed the center fielder, allowing Simons to score and Barraza to take second. Jadalynn Rodriguez later tied the game with a two-out double to right center, the Lions third double of the inning. 
• Janelle Blaszka settled down after the first and GCU gave her a lead in the third. Kaitlyn Stufft led off with a double to left center and came in to score on Simons' RBI infield single. 
• With two outs and two on in the fifth, it was the senior Barraza coming through with a clutch hit to provide the Lions some insurance driving in Adriana Mungo who led off with a single.
• Now leading 4-2, that extra run proved to be the difference. Blaszka ran into trouble in the sixth. The inning started with an error on the infield. Two walks and a hit-by-pitch brought in a run. But with the bases loaded and two out, Blaszka got the big out, a pop out to third to leave three runners on base.
• Franklin Pierce put the tying run on again in the seventh, but Blaszka fanned two in the inning to send GCU home winners in game one.

Lions Stat Leaders
• Taylor Barraza was 2-2 with a double and two RBI.
• Janelle Blaszka pitched all seven innings allowing three runs, one earned on just two hits with six strikeouts.
• Savannah Simons was 2-3 with a double, run scored and an RBI.
• Adriana Mungo and Kaitlyn Stufft were both 1-3 with a run scored.
• Jadalynn Rodriguez doubled and drove in a run.

For the Ravens
• Franklin Pierce used three pitchers with Samantha Sylvester the most effective. She threw the last two innings allowing just two hits and no runs with a pair of strikeouts.
• Haley Bigwood singled and drove in a run.
• Amy Jones walked, stole two bases and scored.
• Hailey Melchert had a hit and a walk in three at bats.

News and Notes
• Taylor Barraza was 2-2 in her 150th career game played. She's now hitting .500, 7-14 in seven postseason games this season. 
• Kaitlyn Stufft upped her reached base streak to 32 straight games with hits in 31 of her last 32.
• Georgian Court is now 15-16 all-time in NCAA games. 
• Franklin Pierce was without Northeast-10 regular season Player of the Year Ashley Cangiano. 
• This is the second consecutive year Georgian Court has defeated Franklin Pierce in the NCAA Regional.

Quotable
On the Lions overall performance
I thought that offensively they did a good job adjusting to pitch selection and that Janelle threw phenomenally. 

On Janelle Blaszka's performance
She's just calm, cool, and collected. Especially in moments like this. For her, as a freshman, to get her first experience at regionals it's nice to see her settle in. 

On the message to the team heading into tomorrow
Just relax. We'll watch this game to see who we will play tomorrow and refocus. Just do what we do best. 

Up Next
• Georgian Court moves on in the winners bracket. They'll take on No. 2 Wilmington tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. If they win, they will advance to Saturday. A loss means they'll have to play later in the afternoon in an elimination game.