LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The No. 4-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team had a triumphant return to the Grizzly Softball Complex on Saturday with a doubleheader sweep against conference opponent Talladega College (Ala.) on Military Appreciation Day.
All phrases of the game shined for the Grizzlies (32-8) as they scored 26 runs on 25 hits, allowed only two hits (including the season’s first no-hitter) and made no defensive errors in winning the first game 11-0 and the second contest 15-0, both in five-innings.
In fact, GGC put runs on the scoreboard in seven of the eight innings players went to the plate in the games. The team’s offense exploded for eight runs in the fourth inning of the opening game, then had twin six-run innings in the second and fourth frames in the second encounter of the day.
All but one hitter in the GGC lineup got a hit in the first game, with junior lead-off batter RaeQuinn Rossetti and freshman catcher Sydney Pelaez each collecting two hits. Meanwhile, junior designated player Sydney Willhite started the scoring with a solo home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the first inning.
Senior pitcher Taylor Hansis tossed her second career no-hitter, striking out eight Talladega hitters and having just one walk across five innings in the first game. The victory was her 16th of the season.
In the second game, senior first baseman Elyssa Melton, freshman second baseman Lea McFadden and Willhite each had two hits, and senior centerfielder Aubree Cox had a grand slam home run to lead the Grizzlies’ potent offense. Freshman pitcher Alexa Good struck out eight hitters and allowed two hits to earn her sixth win of the spring.
This was the second time GGC has swept Talladega, a member of the Association of Independent Institutions, this season. The team outscored the Tornadoes 61-1 in the four games.
Turning Point
GGC scored eight runs in the fourth inning to break open the first game, after holding a comfortable 3-0 lead. Eleven different hitters were sent to the plate in the inning. Run-scoring hits were recorded by Sydney Pelaez, Aubree Cox, RaeQuinn Rossetti, Lea McFadden and Crystal Busbee. The team also took advantage of a defensive error to score runs.
Key Plays
First Game
Bottom of First
Sydney Willhite hit a solo home run over the left field fence to put the hosts on the scoreboard
Bottom of Third
Sydney Pelaez scored on a wild throw by the Talladega defense
Aubree Cox came home following Sydney Willhite’s ground out
Bottom of Fourth
Sydney Pelaez’s single scored Elyssa Melton for the first mark of the eight-run inning
A single by Aubree Cox brought home Ruth Jones
Another single by RaeQuinn Rosetti scored Sydney Pelaez
Pinch hitter Lea McFadden had a single to left-center field that scored Aubree Cox and RaeQuinn Rossetti
A wild throw by the Talladega defense allowed one run to score
Cyrstal Busbee’s double to deep right-center field scored Tori Robinson and Elyssa Melton
Second Game
Bottom of First
Sydney Willhite’s single got the scoring started early, bringing home RaeQuinn Rossetti and Crystal Busbee
Bottom of Second
GGC scored four runs after having Talladega’s defensive had retired the first two hitters of the inning
However, a defensive error opened the way for Taylor Takushi and Aubree Cox to score
Sydney Willhite’s double to left-center field scored RaeQuinn Rossetti and Crystal Busbee
Bottom of Third
Madison Martin brought home Elyssa Melton and Lea McFadden with a single
Taylor Takushi scored followed a defensive error on Courtney McKenzie’s batted ball
Bottom of Fourth
Aubree Cox’s grand slam home run accounted for four of the six runs in the inning
Inside The Numbers
- The Grizzlies scored 26 runs on 25 hits, with only two home runs, in the doubleheader
- GGC pitchers allowed two hits and had 16 strike outs across 10 innings
- Ten of GGC’s 12 players in the lineup had at least one hit in the two games
- GGC outscored Talladega by a 61-to-1 margin in both doubleheaders this season between the two A.I.I member teams
News & Notes
- GGC improves to 32-8 on the season; Talladega falls to 4-24
- Georgia Gwinnett College stood No. 4 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
- Senior pitcher Taylor Hansis tossed her second career no-hitter, recording eight strikeouts in a five-inning effort in the circle
- GGC has a 16-2 record at the Grizzly Softball Complex this season
- A ceremonial flyover was part of pregame festivities. A C-21 Air Force jet from Scott Air Force Base in O’Fallon, Ill., was co-piloted by Captain Greg Ihlenburg, son of GGC Assistant Coach John Ihlenburg and brother-in-law to GGC Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg. Captain Alicia Canetta and First Lieutenant Ryan Adams were co-pilots for the flyover
Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play a doubleheader at Truett-McConnell University on Tuesday, April 9, starting at 1 p.m. in Canton, Ga.