Saturday was an exciting day for the Chargers. Not only was it a doubleheader with East Georgia, but it was also Sophomore Day, a time to celebrate players who are moving forward. Previously in the season, East Georgia swept the doubleheader from Charger's softball, so a bit of revenge was on the line as well.
The plot escalated as Georgia Highlands jumped out three runs in the bottom of the first inning as Hailey Cronic singled scoring Madison Bennett, and Taryn Hitchcock singled scoring Hailey Cronic and Lacey Rutledge. The Bobcats answered with a run in the top of the second inning. The Chargers offense strikes with another run in the bottom of the fourth as Izzy Marcotte hits a sacrifice fly to score Madison Bennett. Allison Daffron adds an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning blasting her first homerun of the season over the left field wall. The Bobcats were able to score two more runs, but it proved not enough as Georgia Highlands clinched the victory in game one with a score of 3-5.
Taryn Hitchcock went 1-2 at the plate adding two RBIs. Allison Dafforn scored an RBI with her solo homerun, and Hailey Cronic was 2-3 at the plate tallying an RBI as well. Madison Bennet hit 3-4 with two singles and a double. Lacey Rutledge also recorded a double.
Madalyn Morton pitched all seven innings allowing seven hits and just three runs, while striking out seven of the Bobcats.
Five Sophomores were recognized in between games one and two as they will move on from Georgia Highlands College next year. Pitchers Montana Ledbetter and Madalyn Morton, Outfielders Alexis Poole and Allison Daffron, and second baseman Maddy Hairston were all celebrated by the team and their families. We are so proud of them and look forward to everything they will accomplish in their lives!
Game two featured an offensive show put on by Georgia Highlands College. Through the bottom of the first inning, Natalia Herrera smacked a home run also scoring Madison Bennett, Hailey Cronic blasted a homer scoring Izzy Marcotte, and Bradey Tharp lined a double to center field scoring Halie Walther. Thus, giving the Chargers a 5-0 lead coming out of the first inning of the game. From then on, the Chargers went on to score a run in the bottom of every frame except the fourth. The Bobcats only scored one run in the top of the third inning, but this was not enough to avoid the run rule as the Chargers complete the two-game sweep winning game two with a score of 1-9 in six innings.
Hailey Cronic led the Charger offense going 2-3 at the plate with two homeruns which tallied her three RBIs. Natalia Herrera had a homer and tallied two RBIs, and Kyndal Brown hit her first homerun of the season in the bottom of the third inning. Halie Walther went 2-4 at the plate and tallied an RBI. Madison Bennett and Bradey Tharp both added a hit and an RBI a piece. Maddy Hairston collected two hits. Izzy Marcotte and Allison Daffron also added a hit apiece in game two as well.
Montana Ledbetter threw all six innings of the game allowing just three hits, zero earned runs, while striking out nine of the Bobcats hitters.
The Chargers are back in action Monday, April 19th at Star's field in Cartersville. They will take on Andrew College at 2&4pm.