The No. 21 Georgia Gwinnett softball team has reached double digits in the win column in 2016 after sweeping Milligan (Tenn.) 5-4 and 6-0 on Wednesday evening, improving to 11-3 on the year.  With the victory, the Grizzlies now boast a 9-1 record at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

Clutch hitting and a game-saving throw-out from left field to home plate in game one by left fielder Alyssa Hathocoat were key factors in the Grizzlies' opening victory as the Pendleton, Ind., native collected a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth to propel Georgia Gwinnett to a 5-4 win in game one of the double header.



"Today was a great set of comeback wins," stated GGC head coach Kat Ihlenberg.  "We had a great pitching performance from Katie Jo, and I continue to be pleased with how well our staff as a whole works together."

In the opening game, the Grizzlies jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second and held that advantage until the Buffaloes tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth.  An inning later, Georgia Gwinnett regained a brief 4-3 advantage over Milligan (4-4) before the Buffaloes, once again, tied the game at 4-4 to force extra innings. 

With the international tiebreaker rule in effect and neither team scoring over the first two extra innings, the Grizzlies capitalized on the free baserunner at second in the bottom of the ninth with a sacrifice bunt to move Tori Heinemann within 60 feet from the plate.  On a 2-0 changeup, Hathcoat lifted a bloop single to shallow left for the walk-off 5-4 victory. Reliever Katie Lange (3 Ks, 2 hits, 1 earned run, 4.0 innings) received the win while Milligan's Jessica Goodson was credited with the loss.

Game two was dominated by Georgia Gwinnett.  The Grizzlies did most of their damage in the bottom of the second as they posted five runs on the board.  Starting pitcher Katie Jo Goodwin picked up her second win of 2016 in the victory, pitching a complete game, four-hit shutout in GGC's 6-0 victory.  Notably, shortstop Elyssa Melton lifted her second home run of the season in the second inning, ripping a three-run blast over the left field fence. Milligan's Kassi Butcher was credited with game two's loss.

Ihlenburg continued, "We have a tough weekend ahead, and it will take a collected team effort to compete well."  The Grizzlies return to action this weekend as they host the Green and Gray Invitational at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Green and Gray Invitational's first pitch will take place on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. as Georgia Gwinnett will face off with Rio Grande (Ohio).  Thomas (Ga.), which the Grizzlies will face in the 4:00 p.m. night cap of the triple header, will also be in action against Rio at 1:30 p.m.  All three teams will face each other again on Sunday.  Rio will start things off against Thomas at 11:00 a.m. and then play GGC at 1:30 p.m.  The final game of the Classic will feature Thomas and the host, GGC, at 4:00 p.m.

Tickets for each day of this weekend'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.

Game Day Central
Video coverage:
http://portal.stretchinternet.com/ggc/ 

Live stats links:
Feb. 27 – 11:00AM:  Rio vs. GGC:  http://bit.ly/20PbiUe
Feb. 27 – 1:30PM:  Thomas vs. Rio:  http://bit.ly/1TAPjBo
Feb. 27 – 4:00PM:  Thomas vs. GGC:  http://bit.ly/1oCRpUQ
Feb. 28 – 11:00AM:  Thomas vs. Rio:  http://bit.ly/1Q6hB0C
Feb. 28 – 1:30PM:  Rio vs. GGC: http://bit.ly/1oDEYIr
Feb. 28 – 4:00PM:  Thomas vs. GGC: http://bit.ly/1RiRnuz

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