BARNESVILLE, Ga. – All season long, Gordon State's softball team had been splitting its doubleheaders – win one, lose one, or vice versa.
That wasn't the case Thursday as the Highlanders took game one by a 6-1 score and then won a seesaw contest in the nightcap by an 8-7 score in eight innings.
The opener belonged to the GSC pitching of Faith Hager (Conyers, Ga. / Heritage HS) and Natalie Song (Cataula, Ga. / Harris Co. HS) as the duo combined to allow one unearned run on four hits while striking out eight and walking two.
Hager got the win with five innings of work while Song finished up the five-run victory with two scoreless innings.
The GSC offense struck quickly with a five-run first inning and then added a run in the bottom of the fourth after Wabash Valley had scored its only run of the game in the top half of the inning.
Alexys Buffington (Brooks, Ga. / Whitewater HS) went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI while Breanna Lee (Concord, Ga. / Pike Co. HS) had the other hit for GSC.
Game 2 saw GSC rally from a two-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning to force the extra inning, which resulted in a Highlanders' win and first sweep of 2021.
Taylor McClendon (McDonough, Ga. / Ola HS) and Kinsey Jones (Aragon, Ga. / Rockmart HS) had three hits each while Makenzie English (Williamson, Ga. / Pike Co. HS) had a pair of hits for GSC.
McClendon went 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored and Jones also scored twice for the Highlanders.
Catherine Barefield (Cataula, Ga. / Harris Co. HS) and Lee each had two RBI for GSC (7-5).
Hager came on to work the final two innings and held the Wabash Valley offense scoreless while the GSC bats rallied for the victory.
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The Gordon State College Department of Athletics is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA). Gordon State College competes in NJCAA Division I in the sports of Women's Soccer (Fall), Men's Basketball (Fall/Spring), Softball (Spring) and Baseball (Spring). Gordon State College is located in Barnesville, Ga., approximately 60 miles south of Atlanta and 35 miles northwest of Macon. Gordon State College offers both two-year and four-year degree programs and believes that our Athletics program provides student-athletes with the opportunity to be successful academically, athletically and in life after their time as a Highlander. Follow GSC Athletics at www.gscathletics.com, on Facebook (@GordonStateCollege #GSCHighlandersForward), on Twitter (@GordonState) and Instagram (gordon_state).