AMERICUS, Ga. – The Wildcats started the week of games off in a tough way on Tuesday. Avery Thomas belted two home runs, but Fort Valley State dropped both ends of the softball doubleheader to Georgia Southwestern, 16-3 and 11-3.

Riley Youngblood drove the ball up the middle to score Mariah Willams for a FVSU (12-12) 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Georgia Southwestern answered with three home runs in the home first and never trailed the rest of the first contest. Thomas led off the top of the fifth with a solo home run before Chasity Kates walked and scored on Leah Leonard's double, but it was not enough to extend the game past five innings.

Trailing by a run in the visiting third, Leonard and Youngblood lined back-to-back singles to start the frame. Alexia Scott would ground out to bring home Leonard to tie the contest, 1-1. Behind 2-1 in the fourth, Kates singled to score Thomas, who walked, for a second deadlock at 2-2. The Lady Hurricanes posted three scores in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth frames to separate the two teams. Thomas did lead off the top of the sixth with a solo home run for the final FVSU tally.

For the twinbill, Thomas led the Wildcat hitters with a 3 for 4 day with the two solo home runs, three runs, two RBI and a walk. Leonard doubled and single with an RBI, while both Youngblood and Kates singled twice with an RBI. Williams singled with a run and two stolen bases, while Ashtyn Perkins had one hit.

FVSU returns to action on Thursday (March 21) in a home doubleheader against Talladega College at 1 and 3 p.m.

-Wildcats-