From Staff Reports

 

ALBANY – the Georgia Southwestern State University softball team was on a four-game losing streak until they traveled to Albany, GA and swept the Lady Rams of Albany State 8-3 and 8-7 on Wednesday, April 3, at Albany State University.

With the sweep, the Lady Hurricanes are now 22-16 overall and 6-2 in the Peach Belt Conference.

In Game 1, the Lady Hurricanes scored one run in the first and three in the second inning to take an early 4-0 lead. In the first, Hayley Tierce hit a sacrifice fly to score Shannon Gibson, giving GSW an early 1-0 lead. In the top of the second inning, the Lady Hurricanes got three more runs as Chloe Zoeller belted an RBI double. Gibson then doubled to left field, scoring Zoeller to increase the GSW lead to 3-0. Kayla Kerr then reached on an error, scoring Gibson to give the Lady Hurricanes a 4-0 lead.

The Lady Rams got one run in the bottom of the second, but GSW resumed their scoring in the top of the third on a solo home run by Tierce.

Both teams scored a run in the fourth inning, making the score 6-2 in favor of GSW.

The Lady Hurricanes scored a run in both the fifth and seventh innings to seal the 8-3 win.

Gibson went 3-for-4 in Game 1. She scored two runs and drove in an RBI. Tierce went 2-for-2 with a home run. She scored a total of three runs and drove in three RBIs. Chloe Zoeller went 2-for-4 at the plate, scored two runs and drove in an RBI.

Gibson started in the circle for the Lady Hurricanes and pitched the entire game. She gave up three runs on eight hits, walked three and struck out seven ASU batters.

The Lady Rams made it much tougher for GSW in Game 2. The Lady Hurricanes came out of the gate on fire as they scored eight runs in the top of the first inning. Kayla Kerr, Lauren Kuerzi, Tanner Robertson, Allyson Murdock, Chloe Zoeller and Shannon Gibson each drove in an RBI in the top of the first.

ASU responded with four runs in the bottom half of the first. However, the Lady Hurricanes’ bats went quiet for the rest of the game, while the Lady Rams chipped away at the lead. ASU scored a run in the second and fifth innings to cut GSW’s lead to 8-7. However, the Lady Hurricanes were able to hold on and win.

Gibson had another strong game at the plate. She went 3-for-4, scored a run and drove in an RBI. Tanner Robertson went 2-for-4 at the plate, scored a run and drove in two RBIs.

In the circle, Jennifer Jernigan started the game, but gave up three runs on two hits and walked one batter. She was relieved by Hayley Dickerson, who pitched one inning. In that inning, Dickerson gave up one run on two hits. Madason Messer came on to pitch the remaining six innings and got the win. Messer gave up three runs on 10 hits, including two home runs. However, she walked only one batter and struck out six. Messer improves her win-loss record to 4-1 on the season.

The Lady Hurricanes will step back into Peach Belt Conference play when they travel to Dahlonega, GA to take on the Lady Nighthawks of the University of North Georgia on Saturday, April 6. The first game of the doubleheader will be at 12 p.m., followed by Game 2 at 2 p.m. The Lady Hurricanes will then travel over to Young Harris, GA on Sunday, April 7, for a doubleheader against Young Harris College. Game 1 will begin at 12 p.m., followed by Game 2 at 2 p.m.