LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – A pair of top-10 NAIA softball teams will meet Saturday, March 16, when No. 4-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College puts its eight-game winning streak on the line against No. 8 Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) in a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. at the Grizzly Softball Complex.
The Grizzlies (23-5) are coming off a pair of home wins on Tuesday against Thomas University (Ga.) to have an 11-1 record so far in March.
Senior Elyssa Melton leads the team’s balanced offensive attack with a .432 batting average. She hit a walk-off home run in the first game of the Thomas doubleheader.
Senior Aubree Cox is hitting at a .423 clip, with 25 RBI and 25 runs scored, while junior Sydney Willhite is batting .419 for the season. A home run in the second game against Thomas gave her the program’s career home run record (18).
Junior RaeQuinn Rossetti leads the team with 26 runs scored, while senior Tori Robinson is batting .380, with 24 RBI.
In the pitching circle, senior Taylor Hansis stands 12-3 for this spring, with eight complete games. She also has recorded 95 strikeouts in 86.2 innings this spring, and already holds GGC’s career records for wins (61) and strikeouts (477). Sophomore Piper Wagner is 7-0, with five shutouts. Junior Jordin Englar and freshman Alexa Good have combined for four pitching victories.
Admission to home games will be $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens, military personnel with identification and children more than five years of age. GGC students, faculty and staff with a valid Claw Card receive free admission. Also, children under five years old receive free admission.
MEET THE COACHES
Georgia Gwinnett College: Kat Ihlenburg is in her seventh season leading the Grizzlies. She has guided the program to a 262-91-2 record and four trips to NAIA postseason play.
Lindsey Wilson: David Dews is in his sixth season guiding the Blue Raiders’ program. He has posted a 241-62 record while in Columbia, Ky. Overall, Dews has a 536-178 mark in 14 seasons as a collegiate head coach.
MOVING UP IN POLL
GGC was No. 4 in the first NAIA Top 25 poll of the regular season — one spot up from the team’s preseason ranking. The Grizzlies have won eight straight games.
SETTING THE TABLE
Junior RaeQuinn Rossetti has recorded a .495 on-base percentage from the top of the batting lineup. She is the reigning Association of Independent Institutions’ Hitter of the Week. The outfielder is batting .387, with 26 runs scored and 14 stolen bases this spring.
WALK-OFF HOMER
Senior Elyssa Melton hit a walk-off home run in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader against Thomas University (Ga.). It was the team’s first walk-off homer since Aubree Cox’s blast in the championship game of the 2018 A.I.I. tournament.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday’s doubleheader will mark the first meeting between the two programs.
SCOUTING THE BLUE RAIDERS
Lindsey Wilson has won its first 12 games this season to move up to No. 8 in the NAIA Top 25 poll. Jaydee Boursaw has hit nine home runs while pitcher Hannah Epperson is 4-0 with a 0.28 earned run average.
FOLLOW THE GRIZZLIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA
GGCAthletics.com will be home for the latest news and information regarding the baseball season. Video broadcasts of all home games will be through the Grizzly Digital Network with Matt Mahony providing play-by-play commentary. Keep track of GGC Athletics through the following social media: Twitter (@GGCAthletics), Facebook (GGCAthletics) and Instagram (GGCAthletics).