The Lightning (4-2) bounced back after getting swept by Pfeiffer University in the season-opening doubleheader back on Feb. 26, and swept doubleheaders on back-to-back days against Shaw University and Elizabeth City State University on Feb. 27 and 28.
GBC vs. Shaw Doubleheader
In the first game of the twin bill versus Shaw, the Lightning cruised to a 13-1 win in five innings. Senior lead-off batter Lauren Witzke led the Lightning with two hits, two runs and three RBIs. Sophomore Cailin Cavanaugh also had a big day, scoring two and driving in another two runs on two hits, including a homerun she belted in the second frame.
Sophomore Sadie Jones picked up the win as she held Shaw to just one unearned run, striking out four and allowing just four hits and one walk. Freshman Ashley Antosh came on to pitch the final inning and retired the side in order while striking out one. GBC tagged Shaw's Sanders for nine hits, 13 runs (nine earned) and seven walks.
The second game of the doubleheader saw the Lightning again mercy-rule Shaw by a score of 12-2 in the sixth inning. Witzke again did a good job setting the table as the leadoff batter, coming around to score four runs as the No. 2 and 3 hitters, freshman Angelina Myers and designated hitter Danielle Rice, drove in five and three RBIs, respectively. Myers connected on her first homerun of the season. Sophomore Shannon O'Hara also tallied a team-high four hits in five plate appearances and drove in three runs.
Freshman right-hander Leanne Miller picked up the win, striking out 10 batters while giving up just two runs (both earned) on five hits and one walk in six innings of work.
GBC vs. Elizabeth City State Doubleheader
The first game of this doubleheader nearly saw the first ever perfect game by a Lightning pitcher as junior Heather Draper was just two outs away from history before a base hit with one out in the fifth inning.
Draper was not fazed though as she got the very next batter to bat into a 3-6-4 double-play to end the game. She finished with a complete game, one-hit shutout victory with no walks allowed and four strikeouts. The Lightning, who committed zero errors all afternoon, won the game in five innings by a score of 8-0.
Witzke, Ashley Paige and Antosh each collected two hits, O'Hara hit a homerun, and Rice and Shannon Graves each drove in two runs.
The Lightning led off the second game of the twin bill with a four-run top of the first and never looked back as they won their fourth straight game by a score of 8-1. Paige, Rice, Kim Narkiewicz and Jordan Waterloo each collected two hits to lead GBC offensively. Freshman Tori Anne Davies struck out eight while walking just two and allowing five hits in 27 batters faced. She allowed just one run (not earned) in seven innings of work to pick up the win.
