ROME -- Softball earned the sweep of Christian Brothers Saturday afternoon to start Gulf South Conference play; winning the opener 3-1 and the finale 9-1.

The Hawks improve to 5-1 on the season and 2-0 in the GSC; while the Lady Bucs slip to 3-7 overall and 0-2 in the conference.

Shorter got things going early in Game One as Niki Cook led off with a single through the left side, and quickly stole second. Maddie Hunt followed with a fly out, but Cook came in one batter later as Kendall Johnson delivered a hard hit double to center field to give the Hawks the lead 1-0. Kameron Carter moved Johnson to third with a ground out, and Ericka Bynum brought her in on a single to centerfield, bring Shorter's advantage to 2-0.

Christian Brothers cut the lead in half in the top of the second on a single from Maddi Welch for the Lady Bucs only run of the game. The Hawks tacked on some insurance with a run in the sixth as Carter came in on a ground out from Peyton Barthel.

Payton Lippert earned the win in Game One, pitching a two hit gem; allowing no earned runs, with five strikeouts through a complete game performance.

Carter and Johnson each went 2-3 at the plate with a run scored.

In Game Two, Shorter took the lead in the second inning with two runs, both coming on a two-out double from Becca Gomez – plating Savannah Thomas and Barthel. The Hawks added to it in the fourth with two more runs as Tiffany Holland brought in Carson Carriker and Gomez on a single through the right side – again with two out. And, in the fifth, added two more. This time as Carter scored on a pop out from Thomas and Bynum came in on a single from Gomez.

Chrisitian Brothers broke the shut out in the sixth with a run of their own as Hannah Oliver scored on a ground out from Jenna Cotter. In the bottom of the inning, Shorter tacked on three runs to bring their lead to 9-1 and call the game. The Hawks opened the inning with back-to-back walks to Holland and Johnson. Both then scored as Carter delivered a triple, before she came in on a sacrifice fly to Bynum – ending the game.

Hannah Draper earned the complete game win, after pitching out of trouble and stranding runners in five of the six innings. Through six innings, she allowed one run on six hits with seven strikeouts.

Holland, Carter, Bynum, and Gomez each tallied two hits in the game.

Shorter will close out the series with the Lady Bucs Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm at Alto Park.