The 21st-ranked Georgia Gwinnett softball team improved to 4-2 on the season this evening as it swept Bryan College (Tenn.) in its home opener.
The Grizzlies picked up the first victory of the day in game one, outlasting the Lady Lions 5-2. Bryan jumped on the scoreboard first in the opening inning of play when catcher Becca Zimmerman lifted a bloop single, just past the outreached glove of freshman shortstop Elyssa Melton, into left field scoring Mariam Wood. Wood previously reached on a leadoff infield single and advanced on a sacrifice fly to left before scoring on Zimmerman's hit.
Georgia Gwinnett bounced back in the bottom frame of the opening inning to gain a 3-1 lead over the Lady Lions. Melton led the inning off with a walk. She would move up 60 feet when left fielder Alyssa Hathcoat dropped a single into shallow left. With no outs in the inning, third baseman Brashante Dareus advanced both runners into scoring position, dropping a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt down the first base line. On a 0-1 count, first baseman Hailey Burnham launched a double to the left-center gap to score both Melton and Hathcoat. The Grizzlies would go up 3-1 when right fielder Mary Burk pushed a single to deep second, scoring Burnham.
In the top of the third, Bryan's first baseman Lacye Walker would redeem an error from the first inning when she lifted a solo home run over the left field fence to cut the GGC advantage to 3-2.
GGC would plate two insurance runs, one in the fifth and one in the sixth, to go ahead 5-2. Timely hitting and heads up base running by center fielder Tori Heinemann led to the fourth run of the game. Heinemann reached on an error, out-legged a defensive attempt to throw her out at second on a sacrifice bunt, and then stole third before Hathcoat's second hit of game one scored her from third in the bottom of the fifth. The final run of the game came off Heinemann's bat when she lifted a seeing-eye single through the hole at second.
Starting pitcher Ashley Beyke picked up the win for the Grizzlies, pitching a complete game. In the 5-2 victory, Beyke achieved the 500 innings pitched mark and captured her 49th win on the mound in her collegiate career. In Saturday's matchup with Faulkner, the senior could potentially become the first-ever Grizzly to reach 50 career wins.
The nightcap of the twin bill also went in the favor of the host, as the Grizzlies defeated the Lady Lions 6-0. Starting pitcher Chelsi Palazzo, who was named the Grizzly of the Day, worked seven shutout innings, allowing just four hits and striking out seven of the 26 batters she faced.
"Tonight, our pitchers really carried the load for the team," stated GGC head coach Kat Ihlenburg. "We had several heads up plays on the base paths, especially from Tori Heinemann, and were able to capitalize on those chances by hitting the ball well."
Outside of Palazzo's superb performance on the mound, the Grizzlies' bats were destructive to the Lady Lions' defense as they collected seven hits and six runs, five earned and one unearned, in the victory.
The Green and Gray did most of their damage in the first two innings of play, going up 4-0 on Bryan (0-2). Hathcoat and Dareus reached on back-to-back walks before coming around to score on a wild pitch by the Lady Lions' starter Walker. Kodi Ricketson contributed to the scoring barrage in the second inning with a single through the middle to score Burk and Heinemann. Later in the inning, Ricketson would score the fourth run of the game on a sacrifice fly by Hathcoat.
With the 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Grizzlies added two insurance runs to seal the 6-0 victory.
Ihlenburg continued, "We defended the fortress tonight and that's going to be a continual goal throughout the season."
The Grizzlies return to action on Saturday as they face a Faulkner (Ala.) program that is receiving votes nationally in the NAIA Coaches Poll. First pitch of Saturday's doubleheader is slated for 2:00 p.m. at the Grizzly Softball Complex. Game two will be played approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first game.
Coach Ihlenburg, who sits at 98-54-1, is just two wins shy of the 100 career wins mark as a head coach, and the Grizzlies could help her reach that benchmark this weekend with a sweep of the Lady Eagles.
Tickets for Saturday's action are $5 for adults, $3 for youth, seniors, and military, and free for children under five. All members of the GGC community receive free admission with their Claw Card. Season ticket packages are also on sale for all regular season contests. For more information on ticketing, click here. Free game day parking is available in the deck at the entrance to the GGC campus.
The first 100 fans will receive a 2016 spring sports poster while one lucky fan each game this year will win the Autobell Car Wash Grizzly Prize Pack.
Game Day Central
Video coverage:
http://portal.stretchinternet.com/ggc/
Live stat links:
GGC vs. Faulkner - Game 1: http://bit.ly/1T8c9yL
GGC vs. Faulkner - Game 2: http://bit.ly/1QrWaql
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