The fifth-ranked Georgia Gwinnett softball team swept its two-game set against Association of Independent Institutions rival Kentucky Christian on Saturday as the Grizzlies outscored the Knights in a combined 14-6 effort in doubleheader action.
Georgia Gwinnett (29-5-1) edged the Knights 3-2 in game one and used the momentum gained off a six-run rally in the third inning of game two to defeat KCU 11-4.
"The team showed a lot of grit in today's wins," said GGC head coach Kat Ihlenburg. "Going down in the first inning of both games and rallying back was another sign of our continued growth. We had a lot of opportunities in the first game, but it took seven full innings to get the job done. In game two, Niki [Cook] was extremely focused and her two home runs were the result."
In game one, the Grizzlies outhit KCU 11-3, but they trailed the Knights 2-0 heading into the seventh inning. The late-inning rally started with an RBI-single by first baseman Hailey Burnham to cut the lead to 2-1. On the first pitch second baseman Quentin Staton saw, the freshman infielder ripped a two-run double to the left-center gap, plating the tying and go-ahead run for the 3-2 GGC victory.
The Grizzlies' starting pitcher, Chelsi Palazzo, received the win, surrendering two runs on three hits while striking out eight in the complete-game effort. KCU's Whitney McKay suffered the loss, allowing three runs on 11 hits.
Kentucky Christian (5-13) powered out to a 4-0 lead in the opening inning of game two with back-to-back home runs. First, starting pitcher Cassandra Adkins launched a three-run blast over the center field fence. Three pitches later, first baseman McKenzie Vanover lifted a solo shot over the left field fence, handing the Knights a 4-0 advantage.
GGC cut the lead to two, 4-2, in the top of the third with RBI-singles by left fielder Aubree Cox and center fielder Niki Cook. An inning later, the Grizzlies tied the game on another RBI-single by Cox and then took an 8-4 lead when Cook hit an inside-the-park grand slam home run to the left field corner. Cook's home run was GGC softball's first-ever inside-the-park grand slam in the Grizzlies' five-year history as a program.
In the fifth, the Grizzlies added an insurance run for the 9-4 lead with a sacrifice fly to deep right by Cox, scoring third baseman Elyssa Melton from third. Melton led the inning off with a triple to the right-center gap. An inning later, GGC made it 10-4 with a pinch-hit RBI-double by Nikki Miller.
GGC's scoring barrage continued in the seventh as Cook hit another inside-the-park home run down the third base line to push the Grizzlies' gap to 11-4.
Katie Jo Goodwin (9-0) remained undefeated in 2017, collecting her ninth win in the center circle for the Grizzlies. She surrendered just five hits without allowing a run in seven innings of relief. KCU's Adkins received the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits in two innings of work.
Next, Georgia Gwinnett will travel to Montgomery, Ala., to face Faulkner on Tuesday, March 28 in doubleheader action starting at 2:00 p.m. GGC will return to the Grizzly Softball Complex on Saturday, April 1 when the Grizzlies host Bryan (Tenn.) in doubleheader action on Senior Day.
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