AMERICUS, Ga. – Georgia Southwestern earned two first-time program victories Friday at Lady Canes Field, outlasting Converse University in an 11-inning thriller before shutting out the University of Mount Olive to complete the sweep. The Lady Hurricanes rallied late in the opener for a 10-9 win, then leaned on pitching and timely extra-base hits in a 2-0 victory in Game 2 to improve to 6-1 on the season.
Friday marked the first-ever meetings between GSW and both Converse and Mount Olive.
Friday's Top Performers
- Madison Banks: 5-for-8, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 SB, 2 R
- Rebecca Hazard: 3-for-7, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 R
- Riley Ernst: 4-for-9, 2B, RBI, R
- Jacquelyn Burns: Win (2-0), 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R in Game 2
- Caylee Johnson: Win (3-1), 5.0 IP, 0 ER in relief in Game 1
Game 1 – Hurricanes Walk It Off in 11-Inning Battle
Georgia Southwestern showed resilience all morning in a back-and-forth contest against Converse that featured 29 combined hits and multiple lead changes.
Converse jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, but the Hurricanes responded immediately. A stolen home by
Simone Gillispie and an RBI single from Banks tied the game in the second. The Hurricanes then erupted for four runs in the third, highlighted by a two-run double from Hazard and run-scoring hits from Gillispie and
Lani Dansby, to take a 6-2 advantage.
GSW extended the lead to 8-3 through five innings, but Converse capitalized on defensive miscues in the sixth, plating five runs to tie the contest at 8-8.
The Valkyries pushed ahead 9-8 in the eighth inning under the international tiebreaker format, but Banks delivered again with a clutch RBI double in the bottom half to knot the game at 9-9.
After both teams traded scoreless frames in the ninth and tenth, the Hurricanes delivered in the 11th. Banks singled to put runners on the corners, and after a fielder's choice loaded the bases with one out,
Erin Garland reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Banks to score the winning run for a 10-9 walk-off victory.
Johnson (3-1) earned the win in relief, tossing five innings and allowing just one unearned run while stranding key baserunners late.
GSW finished with 16 hits in the opener, led by Banks' four-hit performance.
Game 2 – Burns, Hurricanes Blank Mount Olive
The nightcap turned into a pitcher's duel, and the Hurricanes delivered when it mattered most.
After three scoreless innings, GSW broke through in the fourth. Ernst singled and moved into scoring position before Hazard ripped a triple to plate the game's first run.
Kendall Huelsman followed with an RBI double to extend the lead to 2-0.
That was all the offense the Hurricanes would need.
Burns took control in the circle, allowing just two hits across five scoreless innings while inducing 11 ground-ball outs. Georgia Southwestern's defense backed her up with two double plays to preserve the shutout.
Mount Olive managed only three hits on the afternoon as GSW secured its second victory of the day.
Next Up
The Lady Hurricanes close out their nine-game, season-opening homestand on Saturday with contests against Nova Southeastern at 2 p.m. followed by Eckerd College at 4 p.m.
