GSC Sweeps Andrew, One Win Away From Outright GCAA Regular Season Title

Hailey Hooper homered twice in the doubleheader sweep over Andrew. (Photo by Village Photography)
Hailey Hooper homered twice in the doubleheader sweep over Andrew. (Photo by Village Photography)

BARNESVILLE, Ga. – Gordon State swept a doubleheader over Andrew College here Thursday by scores of 10-1 and 10-7 to clinch a share of the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) regular season title for the first time in school history.

GSC, a winner of four games in a row, is now 30-11 overall and 19-3 in the GCAA heading into a Saturday doubleheader at East Georgia State College to close out the regular season.

One GSC win vs. EGSC or one Georgia Military College loss to Andrew on Sunday would secure the regular season title outright for the Highlanders. Should the two teams end up a tie for the top spot, tiebreakers would be used to determine the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the conference postseason tournament.

Game one vs. Andrew saw GSC build a 6-1 lead after five innings and then finish off the nine-run victory with a four-run sixth.

Catherine Barefield (Cataula, Ga. / Harris Co. HS) and Hailey Hooper (Monticello, Ga. / Piedmont Academy) homered for the Highlanders. Barefield finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI and run scored while Hooper had two RBI and a run.

Taylor McClendon (McDonough, Ga. / Ola HS) led all hitters with three hits in the game, including a double, and added an RBI and a run to her totals.

Breanna Lee (Concord, Ga. / Pike Co. HS) and Claire Williams (Conyers, Ga. / Heritage HS) had two hits each in the 14-hit attack for GSC.

Faith Hager (Madison, Ga. / Heritage HS) picked up her 16th win in the circle with a four-hitter that yielding just one run while striking out four and walking none.

Game two featured more offense, but this time from both teams as GSC took an early 7-0 lead with a seven-run second inning.

But Andrew (9-41, 2-20) chipped away and cut the GSC advantage to 7-4 after four innings.

The Highlanders answered back with a three-run fifth and then held off a Tigers' rally in the top of the seventh to complete the three-run victory.

Barefield and Hooper homered again – Barefield's 16th and Hooper's 5th – to lead the 13-hit attack for GSC as 12 different Highlanders collected a hit in the game.

Alexys Buffington (Brooks, Ga. / Whitewater HS) had two hits, including a double, while driving in a run and scoring once.

Hooper and Lee led the RBI total with two each.

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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).