GHC softball wins program's first conference title on Hudson's walk-off home run
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 12 hours ago
May 9, 2026
Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com
Athens Hudson hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning — her second of the game — and Emily Ferro pitched her third consecutive complete game from the circle, leading Georgia Highlands on Saturday to a 4-3 victory over Georgia Military College and securing the Chargers’ first-ever conference championship.
Georgia Highlands began play in the GCAA in 2013.
GHC, hosting the double-elimination Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, went 3-0, including victories over Gordon State on Thursday and the top-seeded GMC Bulldogs on Friday and Saturday.
Georgia Military led 2-0 on Saturday, heading into the bottom of the fourth inning when the Chargers cut that advantage in half. Anslee Logan singled to start the frame and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by CeCe Williams. Emmalee Freeman reached on an infield error, and Logan scored on the same play.
Hudson, a Calhoun product, led off the bottom of the fifth inning with her first home run of the day, and Logan’s sac fly later in the inning gave the Chargers a 3-2 lead.
Kaiden Bradford hit a solo home run for the Bulldogs to knot the score at 3-3 in the top of the seventh, and Hudson’s second round-tripper won it for the Chargers.
GHC pitcher Emily Ferro went the distance in the circle for a third-straight tournament game. She yielded eight hits and two walks while fanning three.
Hudson’s two. Homers accounted for half of the Chargers’ hits in the decisive game. Logan (RBI) and Gracie Azpeitia had the other GHC hits.
Coach Tanner Robertson reflected on the title run and the season.
"I’m really proud of these girls and everything Team 13 has accomplished this season. This group has faced adversity, stayed together, and continued to compete every single day. They’ve bought into the culture we’re building here at Georgia Highlands, and winning the conference tournament is a reflection of the work they’ve put in all year."
"What makes this team special is the toughness, resilience, and belief they have in each other," Robertson continued. "Watching this group grow throughout the season and accomplish something like this together has been really rewarding as a coach. This championship means a lot to our program, and I’m excited for these players to enjoy the moment they’ve earned."
Georgia Highlands (32-16) advances to play a best-of-three series versus Gaston College (NC) for a spot in the NJCAA Women’s World Series. The Chargers and Rhinos will play a doubleheader on Tuesday, starting at 4 p.m. for the Mid-Atlantic District Championship. If a third game is needed, it will be on Wednesday at noon. Georgia Highlands will host.
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