Softball Splits Conference Opener with GMC
Georgia Highlands College softball split their conference opening doubleheader against Georgia Military College Saturday afternoon at Carol Brown Field in Cartersville. The split brings the Chargers to 8-8 overall and 1-1 in GCAA play.
GMC jumped ahead quickly with a three‑run first inning. Jayna Kearson started things off with a two-run double, followed shortly by a couple of passed balls to bring her and Olivia Bridger home, pushing the Bulldogs ahead 3–0 before the Chargers recorded an out. GMC added two more in the third on an RBI triple from Sophia Boutelle and an RBI double by Claire Clements, extending the lead to 5–1.
Georgia Highlands broke through in the second when Ahmani Green (Albany, GA) scored and Anslee Logan (Loganville, GA) advanced all the way to third on a steal paired with an error. In the third, Green delivered again—this time with an RBI single that plated Emily Ferro (Villa Rica, GA), cutting the deficit to 5–2.
After GMC tacked on a run in the fourth, the Chargers responded with a strong inning of their own. Alivia Fannin (Bell Buckle, TN) came through with a two‑RBI single, scoring Linley Haynes (Rome, GA) and CeCe Williams (Covington, GA) to bring GHC within 6–4.
Momentum fully swung in the fifth. Logan ripped an RBI double to score Green, and shortly after Gracie Azpeitia (Chamblee, GA) drove in Logan with a single to tie the game at 6–6, electrifying the Chargers’ dugout.
The sixth inning proved costly for the Chargers, however. A pair of fielding miscues allowed Kearson to reach and eventually come around, part of a three‑run frame fueled by errors and an RBI single from Boutelle. GMC regained control with a 9–6 lead.
But GHC refused to go away quietly. Green continued her strong day at the plate with an RBI double in the sixth, scoring Fannin to narrow the margin to 9–7. GMC added insurance in the seventh with a two‑RBI groundout by Bridger, stretching the lead to 11–7. The Chargers plated one more in the bottom of the seventh when Emma Darrow (Guyton, GA) grounded out to score Azpeitia, but the rally ended there.
Game 2 was a completely different story as GHC exploded out of the gate with an offensive surge across the first three innings and never looked back, securing a 12–4 victory.
The Chargers struck quickly in the opening frame. Darrow scored the game’s first run on an RBI groundout from Ferro, setting the tone early. Moments later, Green ripped an RBI triple to bring home Fannin, pushing the lead to 2–0. Azpeitia added a sacrifice fly to score Green, giving GHC a commanding 3–0 edge after one.
GHC continued to apply pressure in the second inning, as Ferro delivered again- this time with a two‑run single that plated Darrow and Mary Cat Kimball (Buchanan, GA) to extend the lead to 5–0.
The Chargers broke the game open in the third. Fannin sparked the inning with a three‑RBI triple, bringing home Darrow, Logan and Williams to make it 8–0. Green followed with a two‑RBI single, scoring Ferro and Fannin as the lead swelled to 10–0. Moments later, Athens Hudson (Plainville, GA) doubled in Green to cap an explosive six‑run inning and push the margin to 11–0.
Georgia Military College responded in the fifth with a four‑run burst, highlighted by a three‑RBI triple from Bridger. Kearson added an RBI groundout to bring GMC within 11–4, but the Chargers quickly halted any momentum.
In the bottom half of the inning, Hudson delivered her second RBI double of the game, scoring Azpeitia and sealing the 12–4 final.
The Chargers return to action Wednesday with a doubleheader against Northeast Alabama Community College at Carol Brown Field. First pitch is set for 1pm.