The No. 7-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team opened the Grizzly Classic with a doubleheader sweep of Bryan College (Tenn.), winning 4-2 and 8-0 Friday afternoon from the Grizzly Softball Complex. The team improves to 4-0 on the season with all of the triumphs coming on its home diamond.

GGC needed a late rally to defeat the Lions in the opener. Then, a pair of four-run frames gave the hosts an early advantage to win the contest in five innings.

In the first game, sophomore RaeQuinn Rossetti squared the contest 2-2 with a single in the fifth inning. A two-run double by sophomore Sydney Willhite scored Rossetti and freshman Holly Janco to give the Grizzlies the pivotal 4-2 lead.

Junior pitcher Taylor Hansis shut the door on a potential Bryan comeback by tossing scoreless sixth and seventh innings in the circle. The right hander improved to 2-0 on the season.

The nightcap featured a one-hit pitching performance from sophomore Alexis Eisenberg. The right hander got 10 ground ball outs over the five innings.

Rossetti recorded multiple hits and drove in a pair of runs to lead GGC's offensive attack. Senior Niki Cook scored two runs and also drove in two runs. Juniors Elyssa Melton and Crystal Busbee joined freshman Ashlyn Brewster in each scoring two runs for the hosts.

Turning Point

In the first game, sophomore Sydney Willhite gave the Grizzlies a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning with a two-run double. The base hit caps a three-run inning. GGC goes on to win the opener by the two-run margin. The team carried the momentum from the late-inning rally to score nine runs during the second game -- completing the sweep.

Key Plays

First Game

Bottom of First

Holly Janco connected on a run-scoring double to trim GGC's early deficit to 2-1

Bottom of Fifth

RaeQuinn Rossetti singled to center field to score Crystal Busbee and tie the game at 2-2. Rossetti advanced to second on the throw home to get into scoring position

Sydney Willhite followed by hitting a two-run double to break the 2-2 tie

Second Game

Bottom of Second

Niki Cook was hit by a pitch, with the bases loaded, to give the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead

RaeQuinn Rossetti put the hosts ahead 2-0 with a run-scoring single to center field

Holly Janco drew a walk to bring home Crystal Busbee

A wild pitch allowed Niki Cook to cross home plate to cap the four-run frame

Bottom of Third

Ashlyn Brewster's run-scoring double opened the second four-run inning of game

Crystal Busbee connected on a double to score Brewster

An error on a ball hit by Niki Cook and a run-scoring single by RaeQuinn Rossetti gave GGC a commanding 8-0 lead

Inside The Numbers

• GGC hitters drew seven walks and were hit by pitches during three additional at bats in the doubleheader
• The Grizzlies' seven hits in the opener were spread across seven different players
• Georgia Gwinnett College pitchers have tossed complete games in all four games this season
• RaeQuinn Rossetti went 3-for-6 with three RBI and three runs scored in the doubleheader

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College improves to 4-0 on the season; Bryan stands 0-4 in 2018
• GGC has won 13 of the 14 meetings with the Lions
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 7 in the NAIA preseason Top 25 poll
• Junior Taylor Hansis has registered 21 strikeouts in two appearances this season

Up Next

The Grizzly Classic is scheduled to continue Saturday, Feb. 17, with Georgia Gwinnett College playing Bryan at 10 a.m. and West Virginia Tech at 4 p.m. In between, Bryan and West Virginia Tech are scheduled to play, starting at 1 p.m. All games are at the Grizzly Softball Complex.