WADLEY, Ala. – Rain and wet field conditions washed out the Gordon State College softball team's long-awaited 2021 season-opener this past weekend in Dothan, Ala. So GSC jumped back on the bus two days later and headed across the Chattahoochee to kick off the season at Southern Union State Community College where the Highlanders split a doubleheader with the Lady Bison.
SUSCC (5-3) took the opener 2-1 despite a strong pitching performance from Faith Hager (Conyers, Ga. / Heritage HS), who allowed just two runs on two hits in six innings of work. Hager also struck out six SUSCC batters and walked just one.
Single runs in the fourth and fifth put SUSCC up 2-0, but GSC (0-1) cut the Lady Bison lead to one when Claire Williams (Conyers, Ga. / Heritage HS) hit a solo homer in the top of the sixth.
GSC collected eight hits on the afternoon, including Breanna Lee (Concord, Ga. / Pike Co. HS) going 2-for-4 while Abby Foster ( ) was 2-for-3.
In the nightcap, GSC built an early 3-1 lead and eventually held on for a 4-2 win.
GSC scored a lone run in the first and two more in the third before SUSCC (5-4) got on the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the third.
The Highlanders added one more run in the fifth while the Lady Bison closed out the scoring with a single run in the sixth.
Taylor McClendon (McDonough, Ga. / Ola HS) was 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI while Lee was 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI for the Highlanders (1-1).
Bailey Odom (Danville, Ga. / Bleckley Co. HS) got the victory in the circle for GSC by going three innings while allowing one run on four hits, three walks and striking out two.
Kaylee Phillips (Dalton, Ga. / Ringgold HS) came on to pitch the final four innings and allowed just one run on three hits while striking out one.
GSC is back in action on Saturday as the Highlanders travel to Allendale, S.C., for a doubleheader with the University of South Carolina-Salkehatchie at 1 p.m.
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).
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