Highlanders Drop Pair of One-Run Decisions To Bulldogs in GCAA Championship Series

LOCUST GROVE, Ga. – It wasn't the ending anyone associated with the Gordon State softball program envisioned, but a pair of one-run losses to Georgia Military College in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) championship series was the stark reality for the Highlanders here Friday night at Strong Rock Christian School.

GSC, the GCAA regular season champion and No. 1 seed in the postseason conference tournament, dropped a 2-1 decision in Game 1 and an 8-7 heartbreaker in Game 2 to GMC, which came in as the No. 2 seed.

Game 1 saw GMC hit a pair of solo homers, including one on the first pitch of the game, to grind out the win.

Makensey Sapp homered to start the game and Caroline Hughes hit what proved to be the game-winning home run in the third inning for GMC.

Those homers were the only runs that Faith Hager (Conyers, Ga. / Heritage HS) would allow as the right-hander shut down the GMC bats the rest of the way on a four-hitter that included nine strikeouts and two walks.

GSC cut the GMC lead in half in the third inning on an RBI double from Taylor McClendon (McDonough, Ga. / Ola HS) that scored Camden Steele (Jackson, Ga. / Union Grove HS).

But GMC starter Jana Shellhorse held GSC scoreless the rest of the way on a complete-game four-hitter that included 10 strikeouts and two walks.

GSC showed a lot of fight in Game 2 as the Highlanders fell behind 5-0 after the second inning, but answered with three runs in the third on a three-run homer by Breanna Lee (Concord, Ga. / Pike Co. HS) to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 5-3.

GMC battled back with three runs in the top of the fifth inning, including Lee's second homer of the game on a two-run shot, to make it a 6-5 game.

GMC answered right back with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to go ahead 7-6 before GSC pulled even at 7-7 in the top of the sixth.

After GSC went quietly in the top of the seventh, GMC pushed across the game-winner on a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom half to seal the victory and propel the Bulldogs to the GCAA crown.

Lee finished the game 2-for-4 with two homers, five RBI and two runs scored for GSC while Hailey Hooper (Monticello, Ga. / Piedmont Academy) went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

McClendon finished the second game with a 1-for-3 day at the plate that included a walk, two runs scored and an RBI.

GSC's season ends at 34-13 while GMC improves to 36-15 and advances to the National Junior College Athletic Association national championship tournament in Yuma, Ariz.

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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 (@Gordon State Highlanders) and Twitter (@state_ad / GordonStateAD). You can also follow Gordon State College on Facebook (@GordonStateCollege #GSCHighlandersForward), Twitter (@GordonState) and Instagram (gordon_state).