Softball Splits on Day One of GCI Invitational

On the first day of the highly competitive Gulf Coast Invitational the Brenau softball team split games against #13 Georgia Gwinnett College and Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) University on Friday in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Against Georgia Gwinnett, the Golden Tigers scored first as Mackenzie Oliver Mullis raked an RBI single in the bottom of the third for a 1-0 lead.

However the Grizzlies tied the contest 1-1 in the top sixth inning with an RBI single of their own.

In the top of the eighth with the international tie breaker in effect, catcher Savannah Moore's throwing error allowed the Grizzlies runner on second to score the go-ahead run and escape with a 2-1 extra innings win.

Kathleen Daniel pitched an outstanding game as the freshman went eight innings, allowing only two hits and no earned runs while striking out an astounding 21 of the 25 batters she faced.

In the afternoon game, against Freed-Hardeman, neither team could seize control until late as the Lions put one run up in the bottom of the sixth inning. However, junior Kelsey Payne blasted a three-run homer-her second homer of the season-to give the Golden Tigers a 3-1 lead. Freed-Hardeman answered with one run in the bottom of the seventh, but relief pitcher Jessica Rathje closed the door on the comeback.

The Golden Tigers outhit the Lions 7-5 in the contest and left six runners stranded on base.

Daniel threw five innings, allowing only one hit and no runs. Rathje pitched two innings of relief, allowing two runs and four hits.

Brenau (19-4 overall) next plays #22 LSU-Alexandria on Saturday at 1 pm eastern/12 central.