Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

THOMASVILLE, Ga. - The Georgia Gwinnett softball team did most of its work in the seventh inning on Friday afternoon, but unfortunately for the Grizzlies, the late rallies wouldn't prove to be enough as the team fell in a pair of one-run losses to Thomas at Armory Field.

GGC's flair for the dramatic came alive in both games as a Cassidy Littlefield three-run blast tied things up in the seventh to force a deciding eighth inning in the first game, and a Savanna Berkhiser run-scoring seventh inning single made it interesting in the second game. However, on both occasions, the Night Hawks responded as needed to lock up the victories.

The losses mark the first two of the season for GGC as the team fell to 4-2, dropping the first game 7-6 and the second 4-3. Thomas improved to 9-1.

Alyssa Hathcoat and Littlefield proved to be the heroes in the game one effort as the former finished 3-for-4 with a pair of scores and the latter was 2-for-4 with three runs batted in. Both Chelsi Palazzo and Abby Hulsey put together two-hit performances as well, but the Grizzlies were out-hit 16-11 in the contest.

GGC drew first blood on the day, loading the bases to lead off the game, but a Haley Thompson run-scoring groundout proved to be all the offense that the Grizzlies could muster as TU starter Katie Lopes warded off the threat with back-to-back strikeouts.

The Night Hawks struck back in the bottom of the third with four runs off of GGC starter Ashley Beyke. The Franklin, Tenn., native would surrender another in the bottom of the fourth before ceding control of the circle to Kayla Byrom.

Beyke ended the day with five runs allowed (three earned) on eight hits over three innings. Byrom was impressive in her relief appearance, holding the hosts scoreless into the eighth frame.

GGC would score a run on a Hulsey single in the fourth, and then a Jordyn Fones double and Hathcoat single set the stage for Littlefield's game-tying seventh inning homer. Another Hulsey single in the eighth put the Grizzlies ahead, but it was only temporary as a Lindsey Young one-out single tied things up in the bottom half of the frame before a Michael Cooper two-out single handed GGC its first loss on the season.

Byrom finished the afternoon with two earned runs on eight hits over 4.2 innings of work.

The Night Hawks rode the momentum into game two as they pushed three runs across on GGC starter Katie Lange in the opening stanza. However, she would prove more difficult to get to over the ensuing three frames as she finished with seven hits allowed over four innings of work with a pair of strikeouts.

Offensively, GGC was held to four hits, led by a 1-for-3 outing by Hulsey, scoring once and knocking in another. TU finished with eight hits.

Leadoff walks for the Grizzlies and Nighthawks in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, resulted in scores as GGC entered the seventh inning still trailing the hosts by three runs. Hulsey once again played a role in the attempted rally, leading off with a single, and Mary Burk followed up in the ensuing at-bat with a double to bring the tying run to the plate. A wild pitch brought Hulsey home, and Berkhiser's pinch hit single made it 4-3 with three outs still left in the frame.

Ashley Chapman made the trot to the circle for the Night Hawks, and she quickly quelled the late push with a popout, a groundout and a strikeout to strand the tying run on second base.

GGC will return to action on Saturday with a doubleheader against Fisher at 1 p.m. at Grizzly Softball Complex.

NOTES: Prior to Friday, the Grizzlies hadn't played a game that had lasted into the seventh inning this season ... GGC is now tied with last year's squad for the best six-game start in school history at 4-2 ... The Grizzlies had not dropped both games of a doubleheader in nearly a calendar year, last getting swept by Cumberland on Feb. 24, 2014 ... GGC is 15-10 all-time vs. foes from the state of Georgia ... The Grizzlies hold a 29-15 record all-time in Lawrenceville and a 22-9 mark at Grizzly Softball Complex ... The team is 10-9 in the month of February.

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