SAVANNAH, Ga. – The 12th ranked Georgia
College & State University softball team closed out its
regular season with a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader sweep
over Armstrong Atlantic State University Thursday at the Peeler
Complex. GCSU (36-9, 14-4 PBC) won the first game 6-3 and took
the night cap 6-0 to keep its chances alive for a PBC regular
season title pending the outcome of other games.In the first game, Diana Baruffa started the scoring for GCSU with an RBI single in the first inning to bring home Deidra Baitey for a 1-0 lead. Aundrea Baker slapped a shot in the left-center gap and circled the bases for an inside the park home run in the second inning. Brianna Hope scored later in the inning following a throwing error by Armstrong Atlantic State (32-21, 9-7 PBC) for a 3-0 lead. Baker added an RBI single in the third inning, and Heather Jones gave the Lady Bobcats a seemingly comfortable 5-0 lead with a run scoring single in the fourth inning.
The Lady Pirates battled back with three runs in the sixth inning, starting with a sacrifice fly from Jessica Miranda to chase home Deanna Beaty. Rachel Koenig-Eng’s grounder took a wild hop over the head of Baruffa at shortstop for an RBI single, and Miranda would later score on a wild pitch to make it a 5-3 game.
GCSU picked up a big insurance run in the sixth inning as Keidra Baitey scored on a wild pitch for the final 6-3 margin.
Libby Kidd (19-6) picked up the win in the circle for GCSU after allowing three runs on only four hits with three strikeouts in a complete game effort. Koening-Eng (10-7) took the loss for AASU after allowing five runs, four earned, on 11 hits in four innings. Baker went 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Keidra Baitey went 3-for-4 with two runs scored to lead GCSU at the plate. Koening-Eng went 2-for-2 with one RBI to pace the Lady Pirates.
In game two, GCSU’s Mandy Chandler (16-3) tossed her second straight two-hit shutout, adding five strikeouts and no walks in the complete game 6-0 victory.
GCSU opened the scoring in the third inning on Keidra Baitey’s RBI single to score Baruffa. In the fourth inning, Baker tripled down the right field line and was sent home due to fielder’s interference to give GCSU a 2-0 lead. Baitey brought home Baruffa again with an RBI single to start a four-run fourth inning. Baker walked with the bases loaded to bring in one run, while Shelbie Lindsey and Brianna Hope drove in one run apiece later in the frame for the final margin.
Courtney Tucker (8-5) took the loss for AASU in the circle after allowing four runs on five hits and five walks in four innings. Keidra Baitey went 3-for-4 with two RBI to lead GCSU, while Danielle Bertram and Miranda had the only hits for AASU.
GCSU entered the day trailing Augusta State and Columbus State by one game in the loss column. ASU still had two PBC doubleheaders remaining, while CSU had one match-up with ASU thereby giving the Lady Bobcats a mathematical chance at a conference championship pending the outcome. GCSU will play in the PBC Tournament hosted by USC Aiken April 21-23.