LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The No. 4-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team split a doubleheader against No. 8 Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) in a top-10 showdown Saturday at the Grizzly Softball Complex.
The Grizzlies (24-6) rebounded after losing the opener 8-0 to capture the nightcap 9-1 in five innings.
Lindsey Wilson (13-1) collected nine hits and starting pitcher Annabelle Ramirez had 10 strikeouts while holding GGC’s potent offense to just two hits in the first game. The loss broke the home team’s eight-game winning streak and was only the second setback on the home diamond.
Then, in the second game, the home team’s bats finally found their rhythm, scoring seven runs in the fifth inning of the victory. Sophomore pitcher Piper Wagner improved to 8-0 on the season. Wagner also went 3-for-3, scored two runs and drove in a pair of runs to lead the team’s 11-hit offensive attack.
Five of those 11 hits went for extra bases. Senior Crystal Busbee connected on a two-run home run in the second inning to give the Grizzlies their first lead of the afternoon, 2-0. Sophomore Holly Janco legged out a triple as part of two hits.
Wagner drove in a pair of runs with a single before senior Tori Robinson connected on a two-run triple to extend the second-game lead to 8-1.
Coach’s Corner
“I’m proud of team’s resilience. We knew this would be a difficult match up as we know how good their hitters are. Piper came in and commanded the strike zone. She did a great job pitching when she was on the mound,” said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
Turning Point
Senior Crystal Busbee gave the Grizzlies their first lead of the day with a two-run home run in the second inning of the second game. The third baseman hit her second home run of the season over the left field fence. GGC never trailed in the contest.
Key Plays
First Game
Top of Third
Lyric Houston hit a two-run single to extend the Blue Raiders’ lead to 3-0
Top of Sixth
Jaydee Boursaw connected on a solo home run
Second Game
Bottom of Second
Crystal Busbee hit a two-run home run to give the Grizzlies an early 2-0 lead
Bottom of Fifth
Holly Janco brought home Aubree Cox with an infield single for a 3-1 advantage
Piper Wagner drove in two runs with a single down the left-field line
Tori Robinson hit a two-run triple during the seven-run inning
Inside The Numbers
- The Grizzlies tallied 11 hits in the second game
- Sophomore Piper Wagner went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI; she also got the pitching win
- Five of the team’s 11 hits in the second game went for extra bases
News & Notes
- GGC improves to 24-6 on the season; Lindsey Wilson stands 13-1
- Georgia Gwinnett College stands No. 4 in the first regular season NAIA Top 25 poll; Lindsey Wilson stood No. 8 in the same poll
- The team is 14-2 at the Grizzly Softball Complex in 2019
- Saturday’s doubleheader marked the first games between the two programs
- The first-game loss broke GGC’s eight-game winning streak
Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College travels to Talladega College (Ala.) on Sunday, March 17, at 2 p.m. in a doubleheader featuring Association of Independent Institutions schools.