On a rain-filled Thursday evening, the No. 10 Georgia Gwinnett softball team split its doubleheader action with A.I.I. rival Kentucky Christian.
The Grizzlies (29-11) dropped game one 9-8, but rebounded for a 1-0 victory in game two behind freshman pitcher Taylor Hansis' complete game shutout.
"It's disappointing to have a game dictated by the weather, but that is the part of the game," stated GGC head coach Kat Ihlenburg. "You have to play with the elements and do your best with what you're given. Taylor did a great job in game two, helping us secure the win and make sure that we continued to represent well as a team and defend the fortress."
In game one, both sides plated two runs in the opening inning to knot the game at 2-2. Kentucky Christian, however, replied with an offensive surge in the second to take a 6-2 lead, ending GGC starter Ashley Beyke's day after one and two-thirds innings of work.
Reliever Katie Lange came on to pitch three shutout innings until the Grizzlies cut the Knights' lead to 6-5 in the bottom of the fifth. Of note, third baseman Brashante Dareus capped off the fifth inning rally with a two-run, bases clearing triple that bounced off the top of the left field fence and back into the field, narrowly missing her fifth home run of the year.
The Knights responded with three runs of their own in the top of the sixth to regain their four-run, 9-5 lead.
As rain started to fall and conditions began to affect the game, the Grizzlies capitalized on three consecutive walks and three consecutive wild pitches to cut the gap to 9-7 before the umpires called for the tarp to be pulled on to the field, halting the game for 42 minutes.
After the rain subsided and play continued, Lange worked through a scoreless seventh, sending the Grizzlies back to the plate with three outs left for a comeback, walk-off victory. Catcher Alycia Fields started a two-out rally, reaching on a single and then scored on an-RBI double by first baseman Hailey Burnham. Facing their final out with a runner in scoring position, the Grizzlies grounded out to second, ending their rally in the 9-8 loss.
Game two featured a true pitchers' duel, as both starters pitched complete games.
The Grizzlies scored the lone run of the game in the bottom of the first with the combination of one hit and two wild pitches by KCU's starter Jenna Edwards. Left fielder Alyssa Hathcoat led the inning off reaching on a misplayed grounder. She then moved up to second on the first wild pitch of the inning and advanced 60 more feet on a single by shortstop Elyssa Melton. On the very next pitch thrown by Edwards to Dareus, the hurler sliced the ball through the dirt past the KCU catcher, allowing Hathcoat to score from third.
Hansis (4-3) went the distance for the Grizzlies, picking up her first collegiate career complete game shutout. The Longs, S.C., native struck out five batters while surrendering just four hits.
Georgia Gwinnett welcomes Talladega (Ala.) to the Grizzly Softball Complex on Friday for a doubleheader contest. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m. with game two of the twin bill beginning approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
The Grizzlies will hit the road for their next 12 games following Friday's series with Talladega, starting with a Tuesday trip to Truett-McConnell (Ga.). The Grizzlies will return to the Grizzly Softball Complex on Sunday, April 17 when they host Fisk (Tenn.).
Game Day Central
Live stats links:
Game 1: http://bit.ly/22zJm9H
Game 2: http://bit.ly/21DT6xr
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