SOFTBALL

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GC softball hosted Columbus State University in a three-game series on March 4 and 5, playing two games on Saturday and finishing the series with one game on Sunday.

The first game of the Saturday double-header was a close game between the Bobcats and Cougars, but CSU came back in the top of the seventh to take the lead after scoring off of two late singles, ending the game 4-2.

GC bounced back in game two of the double-header after the late-inning loss. The Bobcats shut out the Cougars, winning 8-0, with a big first-career home run from fresh- man Emily Hobbs that drove in three.

CSU started game three off strong, taking advantage of back-toback walks in the top of the first with a triple to right field. While GC produced hits in the early innings, they could not produce any runs.

The Cougars added onto their lead in the top of the third after a double scored the runner on second base.

The Bobcats found some momentum in the bottom of the third with a double by junior Mackenzie Hoffman. Leadoff hitter Sydney Lancaster advanced the runner with a single and followed that up with a stolen base.

Sophomore infielder Kam Caldwell kept the inning alive for the

Bobcats after an unsuccessful catch by the CSU shortstop that sent the ball into right field, scoring the Bobcats’ first runs of the day.

Next up, senior infielder Jessica Owens tied the game after a firstpitch triple to right field.

GC scored again after junior outfielder Mackenzie Martian reached on an error. The Bobcats ended the third inning with the lead, 4-3.

CSU fought back, producing three runs after a bad throw from Hobbs with the bases loaded. Although CSU had a hot fourth inning, the Bobcats did not let that affect them from having one too.

GC had 10 hitters come to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning, with two doubles, two singles, two walks and a hit from a throwing error, making the score 10-6.

The Cougars were held scoreless in the late innings of the game after junior pitcher Shelby Jones stepped on the rubber for the Bobcats. She gave up no hits and allowed only one walk, keeping the score 10-6.

GC had 11 hits, led by Kam Caldwell, who was 3-for-4, and Mackenzie Hoffman, who was 3-for-3. The Bobcats tore up the base paths in Sunday’s game, going 8-for-8 in stolen bases.

“Our performance today was definitely a ten out of ten today,” Caldwell said. “They scored first, but we knew we had to come back with big energy. We were able to work as a team to get timely hits when we needed them.”

This series was the first time the Bobcats beat CSU since their last home series versus the Cougars in 2018.

“This series win was huge,” Hoffman said. “This is the first time in, I think, four years that they have even come to our field, which is the last time we won a series against them, let alone a game. We have always wanted to beat this team, so it feels good, especially since I have been here since my freshman year, and we have never been able to play like this against them.”

The softball team picked up the pace from a year ago, already sur-

After another beautiful weekend in Milledgeville, the men’s tennis team sits at 5-2 with two home wins against Converse and Catawba.

The Bobcats were dominant on Saturday in their 7-0 sweep of Converse. The only loss of the match came in doubles play, where the Bobcats won two of three matches. GC sported a perfect 6-for-6 record in singles.

A major moment in the match came from sophomore Karol Malirz and junior Enzo Sergi winning 7-6 in the cru- cial tie-breaking match for doubles play. This doubles duel of Malirz and Sergi against Leopold Morel and Marty Letessier of Converse was the highlight of the event.

Malirz and Sergi were key players for GC, as they outmatched and outlasted Converse with impressive return shots and merciless serves. In a high pressure, tie-breaking scenario, these two brought intensity and an edge for the Bobcats, which is a promising sight heading into conference play.

Malirz and Sergi also saw involvement after this huge match, both finding singles wins. Malirz defeated Gregoire Legrand of Converse in two sets 6-0, 6-1. Sergi defeated Paul Berrouet of Converse, also in two sets 6-2, 7-5.

Junior Jorge Robinson was another key player for the Bobcats. Robinson put on a strong display by teaming up with redshirt-sophomore Aurélien Arlot to beat Gregoire Legrand and Paul Berrouet of Converse 6-4.

Robinson’s strongest moment of the match came in his singles duel with Converse’s Enzo Marcheschi. After losing the first set 6-1, Robin- son turned on the heat to come back with wins in back-to-back sets 6-4, 6-4 and take the match.

Freshman Luka Sauer Jiminez also pulled a comeback in the last two sets of his match against Leopold Morel of Converse. Morel jumped to a one-set lead 6-4, before Jimnez dominated the last two sets 6-2, 6-1.

“The team performed pretty well,” said redshirt-senior Jack Sorel. “We got two solid wins that we’re ready to build on going into conference play.”

When asked about how the team looks going into conference play, passing their win record from the whole last season. Although the Bobcats have had a good beginning of their season, there is still room for improvement to help them finish strong.

“We just need to continue to work on consistency,” said head coach Jamie Grodecki. “We need to keep trying to avoid giving up big inning, keep it clean on defense and try to minimize our walks. I think all we need to do is show up, make the routine plays, do our job and play GC ball.”

GC will continue their journey with a long twoand-a-half-week road trip before their next home game on March 25 against Lander University for alumni weekend.

Sorel added, “This is the best team we’ve had since I’ve been here. We’re definitely looking to do some damage”.

The Bobcats proved this weekend that they are a force to be reckoned with.

“This is the best team we have had since I have been here,” Sorel said. “We’re definitely looking to do some damage.”

Dominance and intensity paired with crucial comebacks by Jiminez and Robinson gave the Bobcats the opportunity of a perfect record in the singles matches, as the rest of the matches were finished in two sets.

“We’re gonna work hard as a team, day in and day out to give ourselves the best chance of taking the PBC conference title for Bobcat nation,” Sorel said.

The Bobcats are heating up for a great run in conference play and the conference tournament. This weekend, the team displayed a combination of both talent and a desire to win.

They will look to continue their win streak this Tuesday, March 7, on the road at Auburn Montgomery.