On Championship Saturday at the 2016 Association of Independent Institutions Softball Tournament, the No. 11 Georgia Gwinnett softball team split its final two games of the tournament to finish as the A.I.I. runner-up.
The top-seeded Grizzlies began the day by defeating second-seeded Kentucky Christian, 6-2, to play their way into the finals against third-seeded Ashford, where they eventually fell by a 7-6 score.
"In game one, we showed the fight we needed to have a chance at repeating as champions," stated GGC head softball coach Kat Ihlenburg. "We did a lot of things well against Ashford, but unfortunately, they got the big hits at the end when it mattered most. It was a hard fought battle, and we look forward to the Opening Round of the NAIA tournament."
Catcher Brashante Dareus led the Grizzlies in both contests, going a combined 3-for-7. The Freeport, Bahamas, native drove in six runs between both games, collecting a triple and a two-run home run, and scored on two occasions. Dareus finished a double shy of a cycle for the day.
Ihlenburg continued, "Brashante played very well all day and helped us be in position to win each game. Her effort was a big part of our successes."
First, the Grizzlies (41-17) increased the newly-broken, single-season wins record to 41 with the 6-2 victory over KCU in the loser's bracket final. Junior hurler Chelsi Palazzo (8-0, 1.86 ERA) led the Grizzlies' charge. Palazzo pitched six innings, surrendering just one run on four hits while striking out a season-high nine batters.
Kentucky Christian jumped on the scoreboard first in the top of the fifth with a solo home run by center fielder Jade Spurlock. The Grizzlies responded in the bottom of the frame with six runs on four hits to take their first lead of the day. Dareus' two-run single gave GGC the 2-1 lead while a two-run single to left by second baseman Haley Thompson increased the Grizzly advantage to 4-1. Third baseman Kodi Ricketson continued the offensive assault with an RBI-double before scoring on a KCU fielding error for the 6-1 Georgia Gwinnett lead.
While the Knights managed a run in the top of the seventh to cut GGC's margin to four, 6-2, freshman reliever Taylor Hansis came on in the seventh to shut KCU's rally down to pick up the save. KCU's Katelyn Miller was credited with the loss, surrendering five runs on four hits while striking out seven.
With the victory, Georgia Gwinnett advanced to the A.I.I. championship round against third-seeded Ashford (Iowa).
GGC jumped out a 6-0 lead in the first four innings of play behind the hitting heroics of Dareus. In the opening inning of play, the catcher launched a two-run home run to left to give GGC the 2-0 lead. In the fourth, right fielder Mary Burk pushed the lead to 3-0 with an RBI-single to left while a sacrifice fly to deep center by left fielder Alyssa Hathcoat increased the lead to 4-0. With two outs in the inning, Dareus delivered a two-run triple off the top of the left-center field fence to push the Grizzlies ahead 6-0.
Ashford, which was held scoreless through the first four innings of play by GGC starter Katie Lange, cut the gap to 6-2 in the fifth with RBI-singles by Katelyn Hair and Taylor Ellestad.
Heading into their final three outs trailing 6-2, the Saints (30-22) rallied to score five runs to win the A.I.I. Championship in walk-off fashion. Left fielder Marissa Thornburg delivered the game-winning hit with a hard hit chopper to shallow right for the 7-6 Ashford victory.
During the post-game ceremony, three Grizzlies received recognition on the A.I.I. All-Tournament team. Representing GGC was Palazzo, Dareus, and center fielder Tori Heinemann.
The Grizzlies now wait for Tuesday night's pairings announcement for the NAIA National Championship Opening Round at 7 p.m. Georgia Gwinnett will host the Lawrenceville Bracket at the Grizzly Softball Complex from Monday, May 16 to Wednesday, May 18. The other three teams that will be heading to Lawrenceville to join GGC will be announced Tuesday.
A.I.I. Softball All-Tournament Team
Liz Moore, pitcher from Mount Mercy
Rachel Ross, catcher from Talladega
Jamie Deering, shortstop from Clarke
Sarah Crews, pitcher from Clarke
McKenzie Vanover, first baseman from Kentucky Christian
Katelyn Miller, pitcher from Kentucky Christian
Brashante Dareus, catcher from Georgia Gwinnett
Tori Heinemann, center fielder from Georgia Gwinnett
Chelsi Palazzo, pitcher from Georgia Gwinnett
Marissa Thornburg, left fielder from Ashford
Brianna De La Rosa, third baseman from Ashford
Taylor Ellestad, shortstop from Ashford
Nicole Schmidt, pitcher from Ashford (Tournament MVP)
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