The No. 7-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team ran its season-opening winning streak to 10 games with a pair of victories Friday to open play in the Reinhardt Invitational.

The Grizzlies defeated Kentucky Christian University 4-2 in Friday's opener before picking up a 4-1 victory against Bryan College (Tenn.). The team trailed in each contest.

In the first game, GGC used a two-run second inning to grab the lead for good against the Knights. A single by junior Aubree Cox tied the game before sophomore Anya Vandersip gave the team a 2-1 advantage with a run-scoring single.

A few innings later, senior Niki Cook gave the Grizzlies a 4-1 edge with a two-run double. The offense was plenty enough for freshman pitcher Piper Wagner as the right hander improved to 3-0 in the circle this spring.

GGC (10-0) used a four-run third inning to defeat Bryan. A two-run single by junior Tori Robinson scored Cook and sophomore RaeQuinn Rossetti. Then, Cox drove in a pair of runs with a single.

Junior pitcher Taylor Hansis struck out two batters and scattered two hits over four scoreless innings in relief to pick up the victory.

Turning Point

Against Bryan, the Grizzlies were needing a spark offensively when trailing 1-0. The third inning provided the offense for GGC with infield base hits by senior Niki Cook and RaeQuinn Rossetti igniting the rally. A fly ball allowed both runners to tag up into scoring position. After the bases were loaded, junior Tori Robinson made her first hit in a GGC uniform count with a two-run single giving the team a 2-1 lead. Classmate Aubree Cox followed with a single to provide two key insurance runs.

Key Plays

Kentucky Christian Game

Bottom of Second

Aubree Cox tied the game, 1-1, with a run-scoring double that scored Tori Robinson

Anya Vandersip followed with a RBI single to give the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead

Bottom of Fourth

Niki Cook drove in a pair of runs with a double down the left field line

Bryan Game

Bottom of Third

Tori Robinson's single brought Niki Cook and RaeQuinn Rossetti around to score, squaring the game at 2-2

Aubree Cox followed with a two-run single to extend GGC's lead to 4-1

Top of Seventh

Bryan brought the potential game-tying run to the plate with two outs. However, Taylor Hansis got a game-ending strikeout to secure the victory

Inside The Numbers

• GGC collected 11 hits across the two games

• Niki Cook, Aubree Cox and RaeQuinn Rossetti each registered a base hit in both games

• Three pitchers tossed in the circle for Georgia Gwinnett College; they tallied seven strikeouts in the performance

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College improves to 10-0 on the season; Kentucky Christian stands 0-2; Bryan falls to 1-8 in 2018

• GGC has defeated Bryan four times this spring, outscoring the team 33-3 in those games

• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 7 in the NAIA preseason Top 25 poll

• Kentucky Christian and Bryan each scored the first run of the game before GGC answered in the middle innings

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College continues play in the Reinhardt Invitational Saturday, Feb. 24, by facing Freed-Hardeman University and the host Reinhardt University.