LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The No. 5-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team found itself on opposite ends of five-inning games against Reinhardt University (Ga.) on Tuesday afternoon at the Grizzly Softball Complex.
The Grizzlies (33-11) took the opener 10-0 before the Eagles rallied for a 12-3 victory in the second contest of the day.
Two-run home runs from junior Sydney Willhite and sophomore Piper Wagner fueled a six-run third inning in the opener. Senior Crystal Busbee legged out a RBI triple and later scored in the second inning. GGC collected 16 hits in the victory, with five hits going for extra bases.
Meanwhile, senior pitcher Taylor Hansis allowed just one hit across five innings to pick up her 17th win of the season.
In the second game, Reinhardt (27-16) scored four runs in the first and second innings to grab an early 8-0 advantage. The Eagles outhit GGC by a 12-to-8 margin in the contest.
Turning Point
The Grizzlies used a big third inning to win the first contest, scoring six runs in the frame. A pair of two-run home runs from junior Sydney Willhite and sophomore Piper Wagner sparked the offense.
Key Plays
First Game
Bottom of Second
Crystal Busbee legged out a triple to bring home Sydney Pelaez to open the scoring
Piper Wagner hit a sacrifice fly to score Crystal Busbee for a 2-0 lead
Bottom Third
Sydney Willhite connected on a two-run home run
Piper Wagner added another two-run home run to give the home team a 7-0 lead
Bottom of Fourth
Sydney Pelaez hit a RBI double to score Taylor Takushi for the first of two runs in the inning
Second Game
Top of First
Reinhardt’s Jennah McElheney hit a run-scoring single to bring home the first of four runs in the frame
Autumn Bible connected on a RBI double
Top of Second
Jennah McElheney cleared the bases with a double to give the visitors a 7-0 lead
Inside The Numbers
- GGC recorded 24 hits in the doubleheader, with 16 hits coming in the first game
- Junior Sydney Willhite hit her 20th career home run during the first contest
- Five players had multiple-hit performances in the opener
News & Notes
- GGC stands 33-11 on the season; Reinhardt is 27-16 this spring
- Georgia Gwinnett College is ranked No. 5 in the NAIA Top 25 poll
- The Grizzlies are 17-3 at home in 2019
- The second loss snapped a four-game winning streak in the series for the Grizzlies
Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Brenau University (Ga.) on Senior Day this Saturday, April 20, at 1 p.m. at the Grizzly Softball Complex.