GHC softball splits doubleheader with highly ranked Emory

The Georgia Highlands softball team fell behind 4-0 early to Emory in Saturday’s first game of a doubleheader, but Brianna Fickes hit a two-run homer in the fifth to tie the score and Carlee Thurmond drove in two, game-winning runs in the sixth as the Chargers won 7-5.

The homerun was Fickes’ 12th of the season and the Lady Chargers’ win snapped a 22-game win streak by Emory.

Rebecca Meade pitched a complete game for GHC. She allowed four earned runs on five hits with eight strikeouts. She also walked four in earning her 11th win of the year.

Ashley Jordan went 3-for-3 and scored two runs. Lauren Womack had two hits and one RBI. Andria Booth also had a pair of hits for the Chargers.

Emory, the second-ranked team in NCAA D-III, won the second game 5-4, despite the Lady Chargers out hitting the Lady Eagles.

GHC took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, but fell behind 4-1 before scoring twice in the fourth to trail 4-3. The visiting Eagles (32-2) added a run in the fifth and held off the Chargers who added a single run in the final inning for a 5-4 final.

Womack was 2-for-2 with a walk for Georgia Highlands. She had singles in the second and sixth innings, scored a run, and drove in one.

Caitlin Parks and Fickes also had two hits in Game 2.

Carlee Thurmond, Mallory Jackson, Booth, and Jordan each added one hit as the Lady Chargers collected ten hits, but left eight on base.

Ashley Cortez and Booth had RBI for Georgia Highlands.

Natalie Pederson (4.1 IP, 5ER, 8H, 2BB, 3K) suffered the pitching loss. Rebecca Meade (2.2 IP, 0R, 1H, 4K) closed out the final innings.

Georgia Highlands (20-28) returns to Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association conference play Wednesday with a doubleheader at Gordon College.