Georgia Gwinnett's 21st-ranked softball team split the opening doubleheader of its 10-game homestand Wednesday with NCAA Division II foe Southern Wesleyan (S.C.).
The Grizzlies (21-7) took game one in a 4-3 walk-off victory while they fell short in a come-from-behind rally in the closing innings of play to fall in game two, 2-1.
"After a long and productive weekend, it was disappointing not playing at the level that we were capable of," stated GGC head coach Kat Ihlenburg. "We are a strong team and need to continue to find ways to push through the tough times."
The Warriors struck first in game one to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the third on back-to-back solo home runs by Allison Barbee and Lizzie Fela.
Down by two, the Grizzlies rallied in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at 2-2. Second baseman Haley Thompson started the rally, reaching on a walk. Three pitches later, reliever Chelsi Palazzo helped her own cause in the circle by ripping a double to the left-center gap. With two runners in scoring position, first baseman Hailey Burnham delivered a clutch two-run single to tie the game.
A frame later, Southern Wesleyan (11-11) battled back to regain the 3-2 lead. The Warriors took advantage of a Grizzly error earlier in the inning and used the trickery of a double steal to score the go-ahead run.
Down to their final three outs of the game, the Grizzlies mustered one last rally to top the visiting Warriors in the 4-3 win. Thompson, once again, reached on a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Palazzo. Brasante Dareus, who replaced Thompson on the base paths, scored the tying run two pitches later when Burnham ripped her second RBI-single of the game to right field. SWU's starter, Lucy Wolff, then walked the next two Grizzly batters to load the bases, sending shortstop Elyssa Melton to the plate. Five pitches later, Wolff walked Melton with the bases loaded for the 4-3 walk-off win in favor of the Grizzlies.
Palazzo (4-0) pitched four innings of relief in the victory to pick up the win while Wolff suffered the loss. Palazzo did not allow a hit, surrendering one unearned run while striking out three.
As a reflection of game one, the Warriors once again scored first in game two. Both starting pitchers, GGC's Taylor Hansis and SWU's Natalie Johnson, took no-hitters into the sixth inning. The Warriors broke the silence with a two-run single by Fela.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Grizzlies mounted another rally. With the bases loaded, left fielder Alyssa Hathcoat lifted an RBI-single to center to score the first Grizzly run of the game, but the rally ended when right fielder Mary Burk was thrown out at third on the relay from center. The tying run was just steps away from scoring as the SWU third baseman tagged Burk out before Burnham touched home.
SWU's closer, Hunter Hoskins, came on in relief in the seventh and picked up the save, having only faced four Grizzly batters.
Johnson received the victory while Hansis was credited with the loss.
Ihlenburg continued, "This weekend, we face the same team in four straight games and will use our entire pitching staff to get us through. We will rely on our pitchers' command to keep us in games."
The Grizzlies return to action on Saturday and Sunday when they host Georgetown (Ky.) in a four-game set. During this series, Georgia Gwinnett will celebrate Senior Weekend where the Grizzlies will honor their seven softball seniors: Ashley Beyke, Alycia Fields, Alyssa Hathcoat, Tori Heinemann, Katie Lange, Rachel Stahlman, and Haley Thompson.
Tickets for each of this weekend's doubleheaders 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. 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
Live Video:
http://portal.stretchinternet.com/ggc/
Live stats links:
March 12 - Game 1: http://bit.ly/1RRnhP5
March 12 - Game 2: http://bit.ly/1nwx02m
March 13 - Game 1: http://bit.ly/1R7xKsF
March 13 - Game 2: http://bit.ly/21ZEePt
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