LAWRENCEVILLE – One more.
Those two words have been ever-present around the Georgia Gwinnett softball program this season, from conversations at practice to the T-shirts worn by the team. As the A.I.I. Tournament concluded its penultimate day, the words have never meant more for Kat Ihlenburg's squad as the Grizzlies stand just one win away from claiming their first-ever conference championship after picking up a 7-6 10-inning victory over Ashford on Friday afternoon.
The genesis of the mantra this season dates back to this time last year when the Grizzlies came up just one run shy of knocking off national power LSU Alexandria in the conference tournament and ultimately missed out on a shot to advance to the NAIA National Championship tournament.
The Grizzlies (35-14) couldn't have put together a more dramatic way to advance to the final day of the tournament, twice coming from behind in their would-be final at-bats before an Abby Hulsey walk-off double capped a two-out, two-run rally in the 10th to send the GGC dugout into a frenzy.
"I think that the difference between this game and last year's is that we're a little deeper this time around," Ihlenburg explained. "We just needed that one extra person to come through, and we have that now."
The rally seemed unlikely at first as a pair of quick groundouts had the Green and Gray just footsteps away from an elimination game on Saturday, but an error by Ashford shortstop Maggie Bergeson followed up by a Mary Burk single leveled the affair once again and set the stage for Hulsey's heroics.
"I knew that Cassidy [Littlefield] was going to get on when she made contact because that's just her mentality," Ihlenburg explained. "Mary Burk is playing lights out behind her, and she was ready for that moment. It was really exciting for her, and I'm glad after the way the ninth inning played out, that it was Abby who had that opportunity. She really took advantage of it."
It marked a bit of redemption for Hulsey, who ended the day 2-for-6 at the plate, as she was on the losing end of what would've been a game-winning call just an inning prior. After the Grizzlies loaded the bases with no outs, Hulsey was gunned down at the plate by AU centerfielder Payton Geeting, robbing Chelsi Palazzo of a walk-off sacrifice fly.
The game was very much filled with momentum swings throughout as GGC starting pitcher Katie Lange settled down after allowing a score in the opening frame, which allowed the Grizzly offense to get rolling and take a 4-1 lead into the sixth inning.
After Lange stepped out of the circle in the eighth, it was 2015 A.I.I. Co-Pitcher of the Year Ashley Beyke who took over and allowed one run on five hits over the game's final three frames. Ashford's Nicole Schmidt, who shared the honors as the league's top hurler, went the distance and allowed seven runs (three earned) with a strikeout.
Taylor Ellestad would be the first of a number of players on both teams to answer the call with the game in question, doubling home a pair of runs with one out left in the sixth to cut the deficit to one. AU's Siera Spahiu was the next, singling home the equalizer in the seventh before miscommunication in right field led to another as the Saints grabbed their first lead of the game at 5-4.
Fortunately for the Grizzlies, they had the unanimous A.I.I. Player of the Year to turn to, and she led off with a single to left before stealing second and later scoring on an Alycia Fields single to send the game into extra innings.
"There was no doubt in my mind that we were going to win this game," Littlefield said. "We want this more than anything. After the way last year ended, it makes me feel proud to come out and see us win a game like this. I can't wait for tomorrow."
Littlefield ended the day 2-for-6 at the plate with three scores, and both Burk and Jordyn Fones enjoyed three-hit outings as GGC out-hit the visitors from Clinton, Iowa, 16-13.
The Grizzlies, who have now won 25 of 27 games at Grizzly Softball Complex, will play either Ashford or Houston-Victoria on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. GGC will have two opportunities to pick up a win over their opponent and secure a berth into the NAIA National Championship later this month.
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