Softball Opens Second Half of Conference Play with Split

CARROLLTON, GA – The Highlanders finished the first half of conference play in fourth place with an 8-6 record before taking a two week hiatus to play non-region games versus USC Salkehatchie and #16 Chattanooga State.  Gordon beat USC Salkehatchie 7-0 and 6-2 before falling to Chattanooga State 7-1 and 8-5.  Wednesday's match-up between Highlanders and the West Georgia Technical College Knights began the second half of region play for both teams, one of which will be a battle to finish in the top four in order to qualify for the NJCAA Region XVII Tournament held in Cartersville, GA May 4-6, 2018.  Despite out hitting the Knights in game one, the Highlanders fell on the wrong end of a 7-3 defeat.  The Knight's designated player Bailey Robinson blasted a grand slam over the left center field wall in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving the Knights their first GCAA win of the season.  Several Highlanders collected multiple hits in game one, highlighted by solo homeruns by Addy Allegretti and Katie Reed. 

The Highlanders seemed to respond to the game one defeat when they set the tone in the second inning by scoring six runs, which eventually lead to an 11-2 victory over the Knights in five innings.   Reed drew a bases loaded walk to plate the Highlander's first run followed by Kelly Bostwick scoring on a single by Hunter Lee.  Montana Schug was responsible for the other four runs when she launched a grand slam homerun over the centerfield fence.  The Highlanders would then score three more runs in the third inning on RBI singles by Lauren DeLoach and Lee and along with a RBI ground out by Reed.  The final two runs were plated by DeLoach and Bostwick in the fourth inning.  Natalie Hardy was impressive on the mound for the Highlanders, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out eight.  Allegretti, Lee, Bostwick and DeLoach, along with Taylor Dykes and Hannah Rae Griffin each collected two hits apiece in the win. 

The Highlanders remain in fourth place in the GCAA with a 9-7 record, one game behind Georgia Highlands.  The doubleheader with Georgia Highlands has been moved to Friday, April 6th at 5:00 pm due to impending rain in the forecast for Saturday.