Feb. 21, 2015
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
LAWRENCEVILLE - Sophomore Chelsi Palazzo threw her first career no-hitter, the first solo effort in program history, as the Georgia Gwinnett softball team dominated Fisher (Mass.) in a two-game doubleheader sweep on Saturday at Grizzly Softball Complex.
The Grizzlies set a new scoring record in a 35-0 win in game one before Palazzo's 11-strikeout, game-two effort in an 18-0 victory. Both games ended by run rule in the fifth inning.
Several GGC batters stood out on the day, led by junior Alyssa Hathcoat's 8-for-9 afternoon with 10 RBIs and seven runs scored. Junior Tori Heinemann went 7-for-7 over the two games with a home run, eight runs scored and five driven in.
Georgia Gwinnett homered twice in each contest, piling up a remarkable 53 runs on 48 hits in just eight total innings at the plate with 23 extra-base hits.
The wins put GGC (6-2) back in the win column after a pair of close defeats at Thomas (Ga.) on Friday. Fisher fell to 0-4 overall.
"It was great to see the bats get really hot and the team be cohesive after two tough games yesterday," said GGC head coach Kat Ihlenburg. "I was very proud of the pitchers' performances bouncing back after two losses."
Game 1
The Grizzlies got the offense going early in the day, building an incredible 31-0 lead after just two innings of play. The 35 total runs and 31 hits are new GGC single-game records.
Hathcoat, Mary Burk and Abby Hulsey each went 5-for-6 in the opener, combining for 16 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
Twelve different players crossed the plate as the Grizzlies racked up 16 extra-base hits, including 10 doubles.
Meanwhile, senior pitcher Kayla Byrom (2-1) tossed a complete game shutout of her own, striking out 12 Falcons and surrendering just a pair of hits.
Brittany Bruns belted her fourth career home run and Brittany Taylor launched her first in a GGC uniform.
Game 2
Palazzo's first start of the season and fourth of her career put her in the record books as the first player to record a solo no-hitter for the Grizzly Softball program. She factored into a combined no-hit effort a season ago, the only other no-hitter in program history.
The sophomore from Woodstock faced just one batter over the minimum Saturday, issuing one walk and setting a new career high with the 11 strikeouts to improve to 1-0 on the season.
"We were excited to get Chelsi an opportunity to start," said Ihlenburg. "We're really looking forward to seeing her grow as a young pitcher. We couldn't be more proud that she held them off without giving up a hit today."
The GGC bats provided more than enough run support, scoring four times in the opening inning and building a 13-0 lead through three frames.
Hathcoat and Heinemann shared the team lead with three hits and four RBIs apiece, with Heinemann belting her first home run as a Grizzly. Haley Thompson also connected for her first long ball of the season.
Palazzo helped her own cause at the plate with a 2-for-3 effort, finishing the two games 5-for-6 with five runs scored and five RBIs.
Cassidy Littlefield crossed the plate three times for the second straight game.
The Grizzlies improved to 6-0 on their home field with the sweep, as all six victories have been won by run rule.
Georgia Gwinnett and Fisher are scheduled to conclude the series with another doubleheader on Sunday in Lawrenceville starting at 1 p.m.
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