Softball Chargers fall to GMC

Georgia Highlands softball dropped a pair of Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association games to visiting Georgia Military College Tuesday at Stars Field.

The Bulldogs clipped the Chargers 9-8 in the first game and won the second game 10-9.

In the opener, Georgia Military raced to an early 8-0 lead after two innings and held off the Chargers late.

In Game 2, the two offenses traded blows early with the Bulldogs leading 7-6 after the first three innings. The teams matched runs down the stretch allowing GMC to escape with a doubleheader sweep in two tightly contested games.

Although Georgia Military prevailed on the scoreboard, the Chargers outhit the Bulldogs in both games and had 25 hits on the day compared to 21 by the visitors.

Georgia Highlands split the doubleheader pitching duties among a trio of hurlers. Emma Vietch totaled 8-⅓ innings on the day — all in middle relief — allowing two earned runs (three total runs) on three hits and three walks. Vietch fanned five in the two games.

Jaycie Hand (3 IP, 9R, 7ER, 11H, 1BB) and Rena Fraga (2.2 IP, 7R, 4ER, 7H, 1BB) made the two starts in the circle for the Chargers.

Brady Tharp, Audrey Johnson, and Madison Dennis led the Chargers' hitting with four hits each. Tharp included two home runs and four RBIs. Johnson homered and doubled with four RBIs while the four hits by Dennis included a solo home run.

Jordan Blair (two RBIs) and Abigail Lathrop (double) finished the two games with three hits each. Allison Deweese contributed a pair of hits including a solo home run. Avery Fisher also had two hits including one home run and three RBIs. Malone Aldridge, Annsley Todd, and Taylor Justice added one hit apiece on the day.

Georgia Highlands (14-20, 8-4 GCAA) hosts a non-conference doubleheader Friday at 2 p.m. with Spartanburg Methodist.