Feb. 24, 2014
Cumberland 5, GGC 3
Cumberland 7, GGC 2
Sophomore Alycia Fields and junior Jordyn Fones each tallied four hits on the day but the Georgia Gwinnett softball team came out on the wrong ends of 5-3 and 7-2 decisions against Cumberland University (Tenn.) on Monday in the Grizzlies’ home opener in Lawrenceville.
Georgia Gwinnett (3-2) suffered its first defeats of the year while Cumberland, which reached last year’s NAIA national softball tournament, improved to 5-1.
“There were a few things that weren’t firing on all cylinders for us today,” said GGC head coach Kat Ihlenburg. “We have the ability to hit all pitching and I have a lot of confidence in our players but we just couldn’t get in a rhythm today.”
The Grizzlies combined for five doubles over the two games, including two by Fields, but 18 total hits for the Bulldogs were too much to overcome.
Game One- Cumberland 5, GGC 3
Fones tallied three hits and GGC took an early 3-1 lead, but Cumberland scored the game’s final four runs in a 5-3 Grizzly loss. The Grizzlies outhit the Bulldogs and did not commit a defensive error in the defeat.
Georgia Gwinnett’s Ashley Beyke (2-1) went the distance in the circle, striking out four batters and scattering six hits.
With the game tied 1-1 in the third inning, the Grizzlies took advantage of a CU error that kept the inning alive and GGC struck for the go-ahead runs, including an RBI double from Fields.
Jessica Roper’s two-out homer in the fifth inning put CU back on top, 4-3, and proved to be the crucial blow in the game.
The Grizzlies threatened in the bottom of the inning, with Fones knocking a base hit and Heaven Hinton belting a double into the right field corner, but GGC could not convert the two-on, one-out opportunity.
A sacrifice fly for the Bulldogs made it 5-3 in the sixth with an insurance score.
Cassidy Littlefield and Marlee Morales also added hits for GGC.
Game Two- Cumberland 7, GGC 2
The Bulldogs connected early and used five hits in the first inning off GGC starter Kayla Byrom (1-1) to take a 3-0 lead.
Hinton ended a Bulldogs threat in the second inning with a diving play at shortstop to save a CU run and send GGC to the plate, where it cut into the deficit.
Kilar dropped in a two-out double down the left field line to score Fields as GGC climbed on the scoreboard at 3-1.
Ashleigh Simmons cut into the Bulldogs’ lead further in the fourth inning with a double into the left field corner to score pinch runner Carrie Ann Bullard from first base as GGC pulled within one.
Cumberland padded its lead with the game’s final four runs in the sixth inning, using five more hits on a two-out rally to take the final 7-2 lead.
The Grizzlies loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, but an inning-ending strikeout thwarted the rally attempt.
GGC struck out eight times against Cumberland starter Jessica Lozano (2-0), who went the distance to pick up the win.
Byrom finished with three strikeouts in 5.2 innings, while Beyke recorded the final four outs.
The Grizzlies are off until Saturday, when they host Bryan (Tenn.) in another 3 p.m. doubleheader at the Grizzly Softball Complex.
