USC Beaufort Box Score | Campbellsville Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ga. - Georgia Gwinnett Head Softball Coach Kat Ihlenburg called it one of the best pitching performances in school history, and the stats seem to back it up as Katie Lange tossed a one-hitter to open up play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic at South Commons Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies split the day's action as Lange led the team past No. 24 and previously unbeaten USC Beaufort by a score of 3-0. Campbellsville, which is receiving votes in the NAIA Poll alongside GGC, dealt a 2-0 defeat to the Green and Gray in the day's second game.

Lange enjoyed an outing for the ages in the circle as she retired USCB's first 11 batters before issuing a walk in the fourth inning. She would walk one more in the sixth before the Sand Sharks' Taylor Triplett dropped a single into center to lead off the seventh. However, Lange didn't seem rattled as she initiated a 1-4-3 double play and then induced a groundout to second to secure her first career shutout.

"Katie threw one of the best games in program history today," Ihlenburg said. "She kept a very strong hitting team in USC Beaufort off balance. She was able to find the umpire's strike zone and made them chase pitches. It was an absolute gem and just great to watch."

Lange, a junior out of Lincoln Land Community College, allowed just three balls to leave the infield on the day as she was able to strike out seven and induce 11 ground ball outs, including seven in which she actually provided the assist, tying a single-game school record.

"I felt really good out there today," Lange said. "Since we didn't have many games, I think I was pretty fresh. From pitch one, I felt like things were going to go pretty well for me. I was able to get a lot of groundballs, and I couldn't ask to have a better defense behind me. They had my back 100% today, just like every game."

The Grizzlies (7-3) drew first blood in the third as Cassidy Littlefield drew a one-out walk to get things started. Back-to-back singles from Mary Burk and Tori Heinemann put GGC on top, and then a Haley Thompson fielder's choice doubled the advantage.

Heinemann led off the fifth with a homer over the wall in left to make it 3-0. She ended the first game 2-for-3 with a pair of scores, and Burk also enjoyed a two-hit outing as the team recorded eight in the game.

In the day's second encounter, Campbellsville ace Victoria Decker threw a complete game two-hitter, as GGC was unable to cash in on a late rally attempt. The Tiger hurler seemed to be in control for much of the game, but after an error and an Abby Hulsey single put two on with zero outs, Decker was able to quell the threat with a pair of groundballs and a strikeout.

Ashley Beyke got the start for the Green and Gray, and she impressed despite being pegged with her first loss of the season, tossing a complete game and allowing just two hits while striking out three.

Both GGC and USCB now sit at 1-1 in group play, while Campbellsville leads the group with a 2-0 record. USCB and Campbellsville will meet on Saturday morning, while the Grizzlies are slated to take on Lindenwood-Belleville. The tie-breaker is based on runs scored, and the teams are all playing for a chance to advance to advance to the championship bracket.

Bracket play will begin on Saturday afternoon, and first pitch vs. LUB is set for 10 a.m.

NOTES: USC Beaufort's hit in the seventh on Friday ended a streak of 13.2 hitless innings for the Grizzly pitching staff ... GGC has a 3-1 record this season vs. teams that are receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 poll ... Six of GGC's seven wins have all come in fewer than seven innings ... GGC entered play on Friday ranked in the top 10 in the country in 15 different offensive categories ... The victory over USCB was the first in five chances for GGC against the Sand Sharks ... USCB was the first opponent to ever play at Grizzly Softball Complex ... The two teams will meet four more times this season ... GGC had never played Campbellsville, and Saturday's encounter will be the second-ever with Lindenwood-Belleville ... GGC beat LUB 5-2 in the A.I.I. Tournament last season for the first postseason victory in team history ... The Grizzlies are 9-8 all-time vs. the state of South Carolina and 1-0 vs. opponents from Illinois ... The team has never played a team from Kentucky.

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