LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The No. 5-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team put runs on the scoreboard in seven of its nine offensive innings Wednesday afternoon to sweep a doubleheader against Ave Maria University (Fla.) at the Grizzly Softball Complex.
GGC (17-5) scored 11 runs in the first two frames to capture the opener 13-4 in five innings. The team sent 12 batters to the plate in the first inning, accounting for seven runs in the frame. Four more runs came home in the second inning.
Then, the Grizzlies used 15 hits to record an 8-0 five-inning triumph in the nightcap. Freshman Sydney Pelaez and senior Aubree Cox hit back-to-back home runs in the second inning as GGC built a 4-0 lead. Pelaez was 2-for-3, with three RBI, and scored two runs in the game.
Junior Sydney Willhite went 5-for-5 and had four RBI in the doubleheader sweep. Sophomore Ruth Jones collected four hits in five at bats, with three RBI.
GGC’s offense collected 32 hits in the sweep.
Sophomore Piper Wagner scattered three hits across five innings in the second game to record her fourth shutout of the season. She improved to 5-0 on the season. Meanwhile, first-game pitcher senior Taylor Hansis won in the circle for the 10th time in 2019.
Coach’s Corner
“We understand what we need to do in order to get better. Yesterday, we did not make some defensive plays that we expect the players to make. Today, we made those plays. We also were aggressive on the base paths. It was good to see the execution we had today. This was a lot of softball (back-to-back daily doubleheaders) in a short amount of time. However, that’s the way it will be during the postseason,” said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
Turning Point
Two swings of the bat gave the Grizzlies control of the second game. First, freshman Sydney Pelaez hit a two-run home run in the second inning. Then, senior Aubree Cox followed with a home run as the hosts moved in front 4-0.
Key Plays
First Game
Bottom of First
Sydney Willhite connected on a RBI single to bring home RaeQuinn Rossetti, opening the big inning
Tori Robinson followed with a run-scoring single
Crystal Busbee gave GGC a 4-0 lead with a two-run single
Ruth Jones hit a RBI single to left field that scored Elyssa Melton with the fifth of seven runs in the frame
Bottom of Second
Sydney Willhite opened the inning with a home run
Crystal Busbee legged out a triple to give GGC a 10-0 advantage
Bottom of Fourth
Ruth Jones hit a double down the left field line to bring home Elyssa Melton
Sydney Pelaez followed with a RBI single to cap the scoring
Second Game
Bottom of Second
Sydney Pelaez connected on a two-run home run to give GGC a 3-0 lead
Aubree Cox followed with a solo home run
Bottom of Fourth
Sydney Willhite doubled to right-center field to score Holly Janco
Tori Robinson hit a RBI single to give the Grizzlies a 6-0 lead
Inside The Numbers
- The Grizzlies tallied 27 hits across the two games, highlighted by 15 hits in the second game
- Junior Sydney Willhite went 5-for-5, with four RBI, in the doubleheader
- GGC collected four stolen bases, led by junior RaeQuinn Rossetti with three steals
- Sophomore pitcher Piper Wagner recorded her fourth shutout this spring
News & Notes
- GGC improves to 17-5 on the season; Ave Maria falls to 6-12
- Georgia Gwinnett College was ranked No. 5 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll
- Wednesday’s games were the first meetings between the two programs
- GGC is 9-1 at the Grizzly Softball Complex this season
Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College travels to the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) on Thursday, March 7, at 3 p.m. in Williamsburg, Ky. The games are being moved up a day due to the projected inclement weather forecast.