April 17, 2013
USCB 10, GGC 1
USCB 5, GGC 4
The Georgia Gwinnett softball team challenged #11 South Carolina Beaufort Wednesday on the opening day of the new Grizzly Softball Complex, but fell in 10-1 and 5-4 contests.
A spirited crowd turned out to watch the Grizzlies play for the first time on campus, seeing GGC (16-26) take the Sand Sharks (35-3) to the wire in game two.
Junior Heaven Hinton drove in two runs on the day to pace the Grizzlies while Felicia Shelton and Ashleigh Simmons each had two hits.
Ashley Beyke recorded five strikeouts in the circle while fellow freshman Tiffany Bailey chipped in 4.1 innings for GGC.
The Grizzlies wrapped up a stretch of six games over four days against teams from the NAIA’s top 11.
Game One- USCB 10, GGC 1
The Grizzlies fell victim to Sand Sharks pitcher Kristi Cook, who stayed unbeaten this season at 16-0. Felicia Shelton and Ashleigh Simmons produced the Grizzlies’ lone hits of the game.
Ashley Beyke went the distance in the circle for GGC, picking up four strikeouts.
The Sand Sharks plated four in the first inning and two more in the third.
Heaven Hinton drove in Halley Ingram in the third inning as GGC made it 6-1, but the Grizzlies would draw no closer.
Game Two- USCB 5, GGC 4
The Grizzlies fell behind 4-0, but rallied to bring the tying run to the plate in the final innings.
Two scores in the fourth and two more in the fifth brought GGC within one run. Georgia Gwinnett twice loaded the bases, stranding 10 baserunners in the game.
Halley Ingram and Heaven Hinton had RBI hits for the Grizzlies in the fourth to make it 4-2.
After a solo home run by USCB made it 5-2 in the fifth, GGC took advantage of a bases-loaded error in the bottom of the inning to score Jordyn Fones and Heather Kilar.
A flyout ended the rally with the score 5-4 and the Grizzlies could not push another runner into scoring position in the contest.
The Sand Sharks remained unbeaten on the road this season.
The Grizzlies finish their inaugural year with a 7-7 total record in Lawrenceville. The team wraps up its season on the road Saturday, visiting Voorhees College for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
