The No. 7-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team took top honors at this weekend's National Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic behind a pair of five-inning triumphs Saturday. The Grizzlies ended the two-day tournament by winning four of the five games.

GGC tallied 39 runs over those five contests and were declared champions due to run differential among the other teams with 4-1 Classic records.

The Grizzlies (18-1) defeated Lawrence Technological University (Mich.) 12-1 in five innings and closed out the action with a 9-0 victory over No. 13-ranked Ottawa University (Kan.). The team suffered its first loss of the season, 7-3 to Warner University (Fla.), in Saturday's first game. 

The third inning was key once again, this time against Ottawa as GGC hit two home runs to help account for a seven-run frame. Junior Elyssa Melton connected on a three-run homer to open the scoring. Freshman Piper Wagner followed two batters later with her first collegiate home run with a solo blast over the center field fence.

Junior pitcher Taylor Hansis recorded eight strikeouts in the shutout victory. The right hander improved to 7-0 on the season.

Key Plays

Bottom of Third

Elyssa Melton connected on a three-run home to give GGC a 4-0 lead

Piper Wagner followed with a solo home run

Bottom of Fourth

Ruth Jones lined a single down the left-field line for a pitch-hit single

Inside The Numbers

• GGC hit three home runs on the day, with two home runs against Ottawa and an inside-the-park home run
• GGC collected 27 hits in the two wins, highlighted by 15 hits against Lawrence Tech
• The 11 runs scored in the third inning is the second most runs the team has scored in an inning this spring
• Niki Cook went 13-for-17 in the five games at the NFCA Leadoff Classic
• The Grizzlies scored 38 runs in the five games to win the Classic

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College stands 18-1 on the season; Warner improved to 14-6; Lawrence Technological drops to 4-7; Ottawa falls to 14-6
• GGC was one of the final two remaining undefeated teams for this season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 7 in the NAIA Top 25 poll; Ottawa stands No. 13 and Warner was No. 22
• Warner has won all three meetings with the Grizzlies; GGC faced Lawrence Technological and Ottawa for the first time

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College travels to Truett-McConnell University Tuesday, March 13, at 2 p.m. from Cleveland, Ga. Then, the team hosts Kentucky Christian University in a four-game series with doubleheaders set Friday, March 16, and Saturday, March 17, at the Grizzly Softball Complex.