On an extremely windy Thursday afternoon, the fifth-ranked Georgia Gwinnett softball team captured the season sweep of in-state rival Truett McConnell (Ga.), defeating the Bears 8-0 and 3-2 in doubleheader action.
The Grizzlies (36-6-1) held Truett McConnell scoreless for 26 consecutive innings in 2017 as the Bears scored their first runs against GGC since March 29, 2016, in the bottom of the ninth of game two. With the wins, Georgia Gwinnett now leads the all-time series with TMU 8-3 and are 4-0 against the Bears at the Grizzly Softball Complex.
"Today, we battled some really tough and windy conditions, but the ladies held strong and powered through the elements to pick up two wins," said GGC head coach Kat Ihlenburg. "Our pitching staff had two great outings and Niki [Cook], Brashante [Dareus], and Aubree [Cox] had some quality at-bats for us. We continue to build each day and are going to work harder every game to reach our season goals. This weekend's games are another opportunity to get better."
Senior Chelsi Palazzo (11-2) recorded a complete-game shutout in GGC's 8-0 run-rule victory in game one against the Bears. The Woodstock, Ga., native scattered three hits while picking up four strikeouts over five innings of work in the victory.
During the contest, junior center fielder Niki Cook broke GGC's single-season steals record (47) that was previously held by Cassidy Littlefield. The Buford, Ga., native swiped two bases in game one and two more in game two to push her season total to 51.
Georgia Gwinnett took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run single to right by shortstop Brashante Dareus. An inning later, the Grizzlies increased their gap to 6-0, capitalizing on two Truett McConnell errors. First, third baseman Elyssa Melton scored on a bobbled ball by TMU's pitcher Bethany Hyde. Later in the inning, the Bears' right fielder Sara Sullivan dropped a fly ball hit by Dareus to clear the bases and give GGC the 6-0 advantage.
Melton would give the Grizzlies an insurance run in the third with a solo home run over the right field fence. The shot was Melton's second home run of the 2017 season.
GGC would plate a final run in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by right fielder RaeQuinn Rossetti to complete the 8-0 run-rule victory.
In the nightcap, sophomore Taylor Hansis (14-3) threw six shutout innings before surrendering two runs on two hits in the top of the seventh in GGC's 3-2 win over Truett McConnell.
The Grizzlies took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second off a two-run home run by left fielder Aubree Cox and added a third run an inning later on a grounder to third by Dareus to take a 3-0 lead after three innings of play.
Facing their final three outs of the contest, the Bears battled back to score two runs on a single by first baseman Milly Martinet, cutting the deficit to 3-2. Hansis, however, held strong down the stretch, forcing a ground out to second to halt TMU's rally and hand GGC the 3-2 victory and doubleheader sweep.
Georgia Gwinnett hits the road on Saturday for a quick trip to Talladega, Ala., where the Grizzlies will face off against A.I.I. rival Talladega on Saturday at 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. Eastern. The Grizzlies then return home for a doubleheader meeting with Bethel (Tenn.) on Sunday starting at 1:00 p.m.
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