LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia Gwinnett College softball team will face No. 2-seeded Marian University (Ind.) on Monday, May 27, in another elimination game at the NAIA World Series in Springfield, Mo. First pitch is scheduled at 4:30 p.m. central time.
The Grizzlies (44-15) won its second game at the World Series with a 5-1 extra-inning victory against Oregon Tech in Saturday’s elimination bracket.
Senior Tori Robinson hit a bases-clearing triple with two outs in the top of the eighth inning to give the Grizzlies a 4-1 lead. The team collected five of its eight hits over the last three offensive innings.
GGC is 2-1 at this year’s World Series with a 2-1 win in Thursday’s opener against No. 9 Vanguard University (Calif.). The team dropped a 4-1 decision to No. 1 University of Science & Arts (Okla.) during Friday’s action.
Monday’s winner will advance to face the winner of a contest between No. 5 Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) and Science & Arts on Tuesday, May 27, at 4 p.m.
Junior RaeQuinn Rossetti leads the Grizzlies with a .414 batting average, 54 runs scored and 42 stolen bases. Senior Aubree Cox is hitting at a .382 clip with 18 extra-base hits. Robinson is tops on the team with 56 RBI, while junior Sydney Willhite has connected on a team-high eight home runs.
Senior Taylor Hansis has won a single-season school record 27 games. She has a career-high 195 strikeouts and has started all nine of GGC’s postseason games this spring. Sophomore Piper Wagner is 10-2 in the pitching circle, including six shutouts. Wagner also is batting .378 with five home runs in 2019.
MEET THE COACHES
Georgia Gwinnett College: Kat Ihlenburg is in her seventh season leading the Grizzlies. She has guided the program to a 285-101-2 record, four trips to NAIA postseason play and two World Series appearances.
Marian: Scott Fleming is in his 16th season guiding the Knights, posting a 576-199 record. He has led the program to back-to-back 50-win seasons.
EXTRA-INNING THRILLER
Senior Tori Robinson hit a bases-clearing triple with two outs in the eighth inning to give the Grizzlies a 4-1 lead in Saturday’s victory against Oregon Tech. Sophomore Piper Wagner added a RBI single during that important eighth inning.
SENIORS LEADERSHIP
Georgia Gwinnett College has been sparked by its six seniors throughout the 2019 NAIA World Series. Senior Tori Robinson has driven in four runs, including the game-winning hit in both of GGC’s victories. Senior Taylor Hansis has tossed three complete games in the pitching circle, winning two of those efforts. Senior Aubree Cox has recorded a hit in all three games.
SERIES HISTORY
Monday’s meeting will be the first meeting between the two programs.
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
Marian is the tournament’s No. 2 seed with a 54-2 record and finds itself in the elimination bracket following a 3-0 loss to No. 3 Oklahoma City University on Saturday. The Knights won the Springfield (Mo.) Bracket of the NAIA Opening Round. Pitcher Brenna Smith is 27-1 with a 0.60 earned run average. Shelby Stotts leads the team’s offensive attack with a .468 batting average, 54 runs scored, 57 RBI and 13 stolen bases.
FOLLOW THE GRIZZLIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA
GGCAthletics.com will be home for the latest news and information regarding the softball season. Video updates and stories will be provided by the Grizzly Digital Network. Keep track of GGC Athletics through the following social media: Twitter (@GGCAthletics), Facebook (GGCAthletics) and Instagram (GGCAthletics).