Designated player Brianna Fickes drove in seven runs and hit home runs in both games of Sunday's road doubleheader, helping the No. 1-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team to a sweep against No. 17-ranked University of South Carolina Beaufort. The Grizzlies won the first game 8-3 before taking the nightcap 11-2 in five innings.

Fickes scored three runs with a pitch hit home run in the fifth inning of the opening game. She then connected on a grand slam in the fifth inning of the nightcap to push the visitors ahead by the decisive nine-run margin.

Across the two games, the junior went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and seven RBI.

Top-ranked GGC (29-2) broke open a scoreless game in the opener behind a three-run third inning. Then, junior Aubree Cox connected on a solo home run in the fourth inning and Fickes followed with her first homer of the day in the fifth inning.

Junior Tori Robinson tallied three of the team's 11 hits in the first game. That helped junior starting pitcher Taylor Hansis collect the complete-game victory. She struck out 10 opposing batters.

Meanwhile, in the second game, both teams scored two runs in the first inning. Sophomore RaeQuinn Rossetti gave the Grizzlies the lead for good, at 3-2, with a second-inning RBI triple. A two-run single by sophomore Sydney Willhite in the fourth inning pushed the team's advantage to 5-2.

Then, Fickes' grand slam over the left field fence was a decisive hit in the fifth inning.

Freshman starter Piper Wagner scattered three hits over five innings to pick up the victory in the pitching circle.

Turning Point

Leading 4-0 in the first game, junior Brianna Fickes put the game out of reach with one swing of the bat. Entering the game as a pinch hitter, Fickes connected on a three-run home run to right field to stretch the Grizzlies' lead to 7-0. She added a grand slam during the second game.

Key Plays

First Game

Top of Third

Elyssa Melton gave the visitors the lead with a RBI single that brought home Holly Janco

Sydney Willhite connected on a run-scoring single

Tori Robinson's single to left field allowed Elyssa Melton to score

Top of Fourth

Aubree Cox led off the frame with a home run to center field

Top of Fifth

Brianna Fickes drilled a three-run home run to extend the lead to 7-0

Second Game

Top of First

Sydney Willhite hit an infield single to score Niki Cook to give GGC a 1-0 lead

Tori Robinson singled through the left side to bring home Elyssa Melton

Top of Second

RaeQuinn Rossetti gave the Grizzlies a 3-2 lead with a triple to right field

Top of Fourth

Sydney Willhite began a four-run inning with a two-run single

Tori Robinson hit a run-scoring double, giving GGC a 6-2 lead

Crystal Busbee beat out an infield single as Tori Robinson touched home plate

Top of Fifth

Brianna Fickes drilled a grand slam for her second home run of the day

Inside The Numbers

• GGC recorded 25 hits in the doubleheader sweep, including 14 hits in the nightcap
• The Grizzlies hit three home runs Sunday
• GGC pitching's staff tallied 15 strikeouts across the two games
• The team registered eight stolen bases

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College improves to 29-2 on the season; USC Beaufort falls to 24-11 in 2018
• GGC is ranked No. 1 in the NAIA Top 25 poll; USC Beaufort is No. 17 in the poll
• GGC has outscored its opponents 89-to-15 during the current 10-game winning streak, with five of the 10 games ending after five innings because of the run-advantage rule
• The Grizzlies have outscored the opposition 86-5 in the third inning of games in 2018

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Brewton-Parker College (Ga.) Thursday, March 29, at 1 p.m. from the Grizzly Softball Complex.