Softball Chargers split first four games of Tampa area trip

Georgia Highlands College softball has split its first four games of the 2021 season on a road trip to the Tampa, Florida area. The Lady Chargers split games at Lake Sumter State College Friday losing the opener 8-3 before bouncing back with a 1-0 win. On Saturday at the Clearwater JUCO Kickoff hosted by Eastern Florida State, Georgia Highlands lost 6-2 to St. Johns River State and defeated the hosting Titans 11-3. In the opening loss of the doubleheader split Friday, Natalia Herrera was 2-for-2 and drove in a run to lead the Chargers’ offense. Taryn HItchock (RBI), Izzy Marcotte, Madalyn Morton, and Haley Overton added one hit each. Morton also suffered the pitching loss (3.1 IP, 7ER, 6H, 3BB, 3K).

Lake Sumter hit three home runs in their 8-3 win, but Chargers’ pitcher Montana Ledbetter shut the LakeHawks down in the second game. Ledbetter tossed a complete-game, three-hitter in the 1-0 shutout. Hitchcock had the RBI hit for Georgia Highlands. Madison Bennett, Lacey Rutledge, Alexis Poole, and Herrera contributed one hit apiece.

In Saturday’s 6-2 loss to St. Johns River, Herrera’s bat stayed hot. The third baseman had three hits and stole a pair of bases. Marcotte had two hits and drove in a run. Bennett and Kyndal Brown added one hit each.

The Vikings scored all six of their runs in the third inning to hand Morton (2.1 IP, 5ER, 4H, 4BB, 1K) her second loss of the trip. Gracee Ellis (3.2 IP, 1ER, 3H, 2BB, 1K) worked her second stint in relief.

Georgia Highlands then pounded out 15 hits in their 11-3 win over Eastern Florida State. The Titans also aided the Chargers by committing five errors in the contest. Marcotte (3 RBI) and Rutledge (2 RBI) paced the Chargers’ offense with three hits each. Ledbetter, Herrera (RBI), and Bennett had two hits apiece. Haley Overton had one hit and three RBIs. Poole also added a hit.

Ledbetter (6 IP, 2ER, 5H, 2BB, 8K) earned her second win in the pitching circle. Morton worked a spotless seventh as GHC closed out the win. The Chargers have a pair of games Sunday to wrap up the JUCO Kickoff. GHC (2-2) plays Gulf Coast State and Miami Dade College. They will play Wallace State-Hanceville in a doubleheader Wednesday at Jacksonville State University before hosting a four game series with Louisburg College next Saturday and Sunday at Stars Field in Cassville.