CLERMONT, FL - The Salem International University softball team finished-off a 2-0 day at the 2017 PFX Spring Games with a 10-8 victory against Georgian Court University on Tuesday afternoon (March 7). Freshman Morgan Atkinson finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with four runs batted in and two runs scored.

The highlight to Atkinson's day would come in the bottom of the sixth inning as her two-run triple to right field gave the Tigers a 9-5 lead over the Lions. Freshman Naomi Smout went 1-for-4 at the plate for the Tigers but was responsible for plating three runs in the game. Smout gave the Tigers a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the third inning with her two-run double to left center. Junior Hanna Crew finished 3-for-4 with a double, while fellow junior Tori Butler went 2-for-3 with one walk and two runs scored for SIU.

SIU wraps up its Florida trip on Wednesday afternoon (March 8) with a pair of games. The Tigers face Northern State University at 2 p.m. and the University of Findlay at 4 p.m. There will be live stats provided for the Northern State matchup.

Junior Katie Holestin got the nod for the Tigers and would work around the Lions plating a pair of runs against her in the top of the first inning. Georgian Court started the inning off with back-to-back singles and would later see both runners score thanks to a double by Samantha Reilly.

Trailing 2-0, the Tigers would get to work offensively and quickly cut the Lions' lead in half with an RBI single up the middle from Atkinson to score senior Vanessa Jimenez. The Lions regained a two-run cushion in the top of the third inning with a single of their own back up the middle, making it 3-1.

A huge fifth inning would help SIU to gain momentum for the rest of the contest. Atkinson cut the Lions' lead to 3-2 after reaching on an error by the shortstop that allowed Butler to score. After Smout's double gave the Tigers a 4-3 lead, sophomore Jordan Whitaker plated a pair of runners to make it 6-3 SIU.

GCU kept things interesting by scoring a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning. Stephanie Torrence delivered an RBI triple to make it 6-4 and would be followed by an RBI single from Molly Jackson, trimming the SIU lead to 6-5. Sophomore Kaleigh Decker provided SIU with some insurance in the bottom of the fourth, as her single plated junior Ariana Garcia to make it 7-5.

SIU would give itself a five-run cushion in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring three runs to up its lead to 10-5. GCU wouldn't be finished however, putting the pressure on the Tigers in the top of the seventh inning. Holestin would face three batters in the frame before yielding way to freshman Rosey Romick with a pair of runners on base and the potential tying run in the on-deck circle.

Romick would a bunt single before recording the first out of the inning via strikeout. The Lions then pulled to within two runs of SIU with a two-run single to make it 10-8. With the bases loaded, the Tigers took full advantage of the fielder's choice to navigate their way to victory. SIU got a force-out at home followed by a force-out at third to end the game and preserve the 10-8 victory.

Holestin improved to 3-3 on the season with the win and recorded four strikeouts in the game. Romick recorded her first collegiate save, fanning one batter and combining with Holestin to not issue a walk in the contest.