The No. 13 Georgia Gwinnett softball team's 2016 season came to an end on Wednesday afternoon as the Grizzlies fell 3-1 to No. 5 St. Xavier (Ill.) in the NAIA Softball Opening Round championship game of the Georgia Gwinnett Bracket.
The Grizzlies (44-19) forced a second game in the double-elimination tournament format by defeating the Cougars (43-8-1) 3-0 in Wednesday's noon contest. In the championship game, Georgia Gwinnett rallied late but fell short, losing to St. Xavier 3-1.
"If you were to ask in early February if we would end up being one hit away from going to the World Series and finishing where we ended today, I would have laughed and said 'no way'," stated GGC head coach Kat Ihlenburg. "However, our team was very determined this year and, behind the leadership of our seniors, we accomplished more things than I thought were imaginable. I can't say enough how proud I am of these ladies, our seniors, and the time we shared this season. It's remarkable and encouraging to see them fight to the very end, leaving their all out on the field."
Game 1: GGC 3 - St. Xavier 0
Freshman Taylor Hansis (4-8) pitched a complete-game shutout against the Cougars in game one of the championship. The Longs, S.C., native went toe-to-toe with the two-time defending NAIA Pitcher of the Year, Nicole Nonnemacher, surrendering just three hits in the contest. Nonnemacher collected six strikeouts in the contest, receiving just her fourth loss of the season.
The Grizzly offense did all of its damage in the third and fourth innings, scoring three runs on just two hits. Left fielder Alyssa Hathcoat (2-for-4) continued to have a star-studded performance in the NAIA Opening Round picking up two hits in the contest.
In the top of the third, catcher Alycia Fields drove in the first Grizzly run of the day with an RBI-single to left to give GGC the 1-0 lead. An inning later, back-to-back walks with the bases loaded would push the Grizzlies' advantage over the Cougars to 3-0.
Hansis held tough down the stretch, allowing just two hits over the final four innings of play en route to the 3-0 victory in favor of the Grizzlies.
GGC's win forced the 'if necessary' contest as both teams held a 3-1 record in the double-elimination format tournament at the game's conclusion.
Game 2: St. Xavier 3 – GGC 1
In the Georgia Gwinnett Bracket championship game, the Cougars jumped out to the 1-0 lead in the first inning of play. An errant throw by the Grizzly defense on a SXU stolen base attempt allowed shortstop Rebeka Ferguson to score the first Cougar run of the game.
In the top of the fourth, St. Xavier scored its second run of the contest on another GGC throwing error to take the 2-0 advantage.
The Grizzlies battled back in the bottom half of the fourth to pull within one, 2-1, with an RBI-single up the middle by right fielder Mary Burk.
In the fifth, St. Xavier would score its third and final run of the championship game on a successful suicide squeeze bunt down the third base line by second baseman Savannah Kinsella.
Down to their potential final three outs of the season, the Grizzlies kept fighting for a spot in the World Series. With two outs and runners on first and second, Georgia Gwinnett was one swing away from making that trip. Center fielder Tori Heinemann and Fields drew walks in the inning, bringing the tying run to the plate. However, the potential game tying hit found its way to a Grizzly baserunner, hitting the runner causing the final out of the game.
SXU's Nonnemacher (28-4) picked up the victory while GGC's Ashley Beyke (14-3) suffered the loss. Beyke went four innings, allowing three hits while striking out one. She ends her career with the Grizzlies with a 60-28 record and 346 strikeouts.
With the victory, the Cougars captured the Georgia Gwinnett Bracket championship and punched their ticket to the NAIA Softball World Series in Sioux City, Iowa, May 27-June 2.
Georgia Gwinnett's season ends with the most wins (44) in the program's history.
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