LAKEWOOD, NJ (May 4, 2023) - Georgian Court Softball started the CACC Tournament semifinal weekend with a big win over No. 2 seed Caldwell. The Lions rode the arm of Janelle Blaszka and put up single runs in three consecutive innings to advance with a 3-1 win.

How it Happened
• The Lions out hit the Cougars 7-5 in the game. Three of the GCU hits were for extra bases with two doubles and a triple. Caldwell was limited to five singles.
• In the field, Caldwell made a pair of errors, but all three GCU runs were earned.
• Despite the win, Georgian Court left nine runners on base. Caldwell stranded three.
• Georgian Court was the visiting team despite playing at home. They are the three seed in the tournament and were going against No. 2 Caldwell.
• In the top of the second, GCU had an opportunity with Jayda Jones leading off with a double to right center. She got to third but was left stranded there.
• Caldwell took advantage of the stranded runner and scored themselves to take the lead in the home half of the inning. Lions starter Maddie Rabe struggled to find the strike zone and with the bases loaded walked in the first run of the game.
• Janelle Blaszka entered with the bases still loaded. After a 12-pitch marathon at bat against Courtney Grunderhauser, she won the battle getting a fly out to end the inning and limit the damage to just one run.
• Heading to the fourth, Caldwell still led 1-0. Adriana Mungo led off with a double and came in to score on a wilt pitch, tying the game.
• With two outs in the fifth, GCU took the lead. Taylor Lipkins legged out an infield single to keep the inning alive. She stole a base and Mungo drove her in with a single up the middle.
• The Lions added an insurance run in the sixth. Taylor Barraza drew a walk and pinch runner Coco Dunham scored on Alyssa Herrera's two-out RBI single.
• GCU failed to tack on even more though in the inning leaving the bases loaded.
• It was no issue though as Blaszka shut the Cougars down 1-2-3 in the seventh.

Lions Stat Leaders
• Taylor Lipkins finished 2-4 with a triple and a run scored.
• Adriana Mungo was 2-4 with a double, run scored and an RBI. 
• Alyssa Herrera entered as a pinch hitter and singled to drive in a run.
• Jayda Jones and Savannah Simons each had a hit.
• Janelle Blaszka threw 5.2 innings out of the bullpen. She got the win allowed just a walk and three singles while striking out three. 

For the Cougars
• Maya Rodriguez finished 2-4. 
• Allison Winters was 2-3 with a run scored.
• Brooke Martin had a pinch hit base on balls.
• Madison Burns started and allowed two runs on five hits in 4.2 innings 

News and Notes
• Georgian Court lost five straight CACC Tournament games against Caldwell before today's win.
• Kaitlyn Stufft failed to get a hit thus seeing the end of her 27-game hitting streak.
• The 27 game hitting streak for Stufft is the just the 21st of at least that length in NCAA Division II history.
• The last time Stufft didn't get a hit was March 26 against Molloy.
• Georgian Court was 3-0 against Caldwell this season.
• Taylor Lipkins scored her 60th run of the season just the fourth Lion to ever cross the plate 60 times in a single season.

Up Next
• Georgian Court will take on Wilmington tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. as the No. 1 seeded Wildcats won their first game as well, 3-2 over Bridgeport. The winner will advance to Saturday and will need just one win to hoist the trophy. The loser plays again right after in an elimination game.