LAKEWOOD, NJ (April 25, 2023) - Georgian Court wrapped up the regular season with a bang Wednesday afternoon in Lakewood. After spoiling Caldwell's chance at a conference championship yesterday by sweeping the Cougars, the Lions carried that momentum into Wednesday. They were met by a Holy Family team who put up a fight, but the Lions came up with walk-off wins in both game one and game two to end the regular season on a high note. They head into the postseason 34-16 and 18-6 in the CACC.

Game 1 - Georgian Court 3, Holy Family 2 - 8 Innings
How it Happened
• The first game set the tone for the afternoon. A low-scoring affair with just five runs and 13 hits. 
• The game had a good pace to it with just two errors and four total walks.
• GCU took advantage of the Tigers two errors with two unearned runs.
• Each team left five runners on base.
• Both pitchers, Janelle Blaszka and Makenna Patterson, were dealing at the start. GCU got on the board in the third with a pair of unearned runs. With one out, Jadalynn Rodriguez and Taylor Lipkins each reached base via errors on the infield. They came in to score on Kaitlyn Stufft's two-RBI single.
• Georgian Court looked to add on in the fourth. They loaded the bases with two outs, but a foul pop up ended the inning and kept it a 2-0 game.
• Holy Family broke through in the fifth. They led off with a double and back-to-back RBI singles from Madison Grubb and Kylee Jones tied the game at two.
• The score stayed tied after seven so that brought on extra-innings. Blaszka shut down the Tigers 1-2-3 in the top of the eighth. With one out, Jayda Jones stepped to the plate. She got behind in the count 0-2, worked her way back to 2-2, fouled off three pitches and finally, on the eighth pitch of the at bat, got one she liked. She cranked it deep to left and out of the ballpark for the walk-off home run.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Janelle Blaszka pitched all eight innings allowing two runs on six hits with five strikeouts.
• Jones was 3-4 with a double, home run and the game-winning run.
• Kaitlyn Stufft was 1-4 with two RBI.
• Taylor Lipkins was 1-3 with a run scored. 

For the Tigers
• Makenna Patterson pitched 7.1 innings allowing three runs, one earned on seven hits with seven strikeouts.
• Madison Grubb was 2-4 with an RBI.
• Alexis Letizia reached base with a double and a walk she scored.
• Rylee Hobel was 1-2 with a run scored.

Game 2 - Georgian Court 3, Holy Family 2
How it Happened
• Game two played out similarly to the first. Another low-scoring affair where pitching dominated.
• Again, the Lions took advantage of some HFU defensive miscues. All three GCU runs were unearned.
• Holy Family got on the board quickly with a run in the first off of senior Jackie Cherry.
• A leadoff walk came in to score on a two-out pop fly over first base that fell in no-man's land.
• Georgian Court tied the game in the second. Savannah Simons led off with a single and when the ball got behind the right fielder, advanced all the way to third on the two-base error.
• Senior Taylor Barraza drove her in with a single of her own to tie the game.
• It didn't stay tied for long. Holy Family led off the third with a single. A ground ball that didn't result in an out put two on before ground ball that played out like a sacrifice bunt put two runners in scoring position. Cherry got another ground ball, but that was misplayed and allowed the go-ahead run to score. She stopped the inning after that though retiring the next two batters.
• The score stayed 2-1 until the seventh as Cherry and HFU relief pitcher Sam Ciasullo were putting up zeroes. The Lions put two into scoring position without the ball leaving the infield. The throw following Coco Dunham's bunt was mishandled and put the tying run on base to lead off the inning. Another bunt, this time from Jadalynn Rodriguez was in a perfect place and went down for a hit.
• Now with two outs and runners on second and third, Kaitlyn Stuff, in front of some of her family delivered the walk-off single scoring both Dunham and Rodriguez. 

Lion Stat Leaders
• Jackie Cherry allowed two runs on four hits with a strikeout throwing all seven innings.
• Kaitlyn Stufft was 2-4 with two RBI.
• Taylor Barraza singled and drove in a run.
• Savannah Simons reached twice with a single and a hit-by-pitch and scored.
• Jadalynn Rodriguez walked, singled, and scored.

For the Tigers
• Paige Tidaback started and allowed an unearned run in three innings. 
• Sam Ciasullo pitched the final 3.2 innings giving up two unearned runs on three hits.
• Madison Grubb was 1-3 with both runs scored.
• Lauren Hagy drove in both Tiger runs with a single and an RBI ground ball.

News and Notes
• Georgian Court finished the regular season on a seven-game winning streak. It's the longest winning streak of the season.
• Before the game, GCU celebrated senior day for their two seniors Jackie Cherry and Taylor Barraza. Both seniors played a hand in the game-two win.
• Cherry had a career day with a season-best seven innings and got her first win in a GCU uniform.
• Kaitlyn Stufft finished the regular season with a hit in 25 straight games.
• Taylor Lipkins ran her run-scored streak to 20 games, but it was snapped in game two. 

Up Next
• Round one of the CACC Tournament. The Lions have clinched the No. 3 seed. They will host round one this weekend. It appears as though their opponent will be none other than Holy Family. Game date and time are yet to be announced. As the higher seed, GCU will need to win one game to advance to next weekend's semifinal and final round (also hosted by Georgian Court). Holy Family will have to win two consecutive games to knock out the Lions.