The Georgia Gwinnett College softball team continues its best start in program history and began an important Spring Break week with a doubleheader sweep of NCAA Division II Emmanuel College Sunday afternoon at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies (14-0) belted three home runs in winning the five-inning opener 8-0, then got a walk-off 2-1 triumph to complete the sweep.

Junior Elyssa Melton collected three hits and was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle in Sunday's second game. She did have a cycle for the day, touching all the bases after hitting a home run in the third inning of the first contest.

Sophomore Sydney Willhite connected on a grand slam as part of a six-run fourth inning during the opener. Senior Niki Cook, junior Tori Robinson and freshman Holly Janco each had two hits in the 8-0 victory.

In the second game, Janco provided the heroics in the bottom of the seventh inning with a walk-off single to left field. That allowed junior pinch runner Crystal Busbee to score the winning run. Sophomore Kelli McGrail led off the inning with a double before being replaced by Busbee.

The Grizzlies' pitching was once again strong. Junior Taylor Hansis struck out six batters and allowed just one hit in the shutout victory in the opener. She got out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning with a strikeout and a ground out back to the pitcher's circle. Then, freshman Piper Wagner retired all nine batters she faced in picking up the win in relief of the game's starter, sophomore Alexis Eisenberg, who allowed an unearned run across four innings.

Turning Point

In the second game, the Grizzlies had the game-winning run at third base, with one out, in the bottom of the seventh inning. That's when freshman Holly Janco delivered a line drive base hit to left field that brought home junior pinch runner Crystal Busbee. Busbee was running for sophomore Kelli McGrail, who led off the inning with a double. GGC had earlier stranded six base runners in the contest.

Key Plays

First Game

Bottom of Second

Tori Robinson connected on a solo home run to left field to give GGC an early 1-0 lead

Bottom of Third

Elyssa Melton belted a solo home run over the left field fence

Bottom of Fourth

Niki Cook gave the Grizzlies a 3-0 lead with an infield single that scored Holly Janco

Sydney Willhite cleared the bases with a grand slam homer, stretching the lead to 7-0

Second Game

Bottom of First

Elyssa Melton run-scoring triple scored Niki Cook to tie the game

Bottom of Seventh

Holly Janco had the game-winning hit for the Grizzlies with a single to left field; bringing home pinch runner Crystal Busbee (replacing Kelli McGrail, who led off the inning with a double)

Inside The Numbers

• Elyssa Melton went 4-for-5 and hit for the cycle between the two games
• The Grizzlies connected on three home runs in Sunday's first game
• GGC's pitching staff had gone 36 consecutive innings without allowing a run at the Grizzly Softball Complex before an unearned run crossed the plate in the first inning of the second contest
• The hosts had three stolen bases during Sunday's second game

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College improves to 14-0 on the season; NCAA Division II Emmanuel falls to 5-7 this spring
• GGC has won all six meetings played between the two colleges
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 7 in the NAIA preseason Top 25 poll
• The team is 10-0 at the Grizzly Softball Complex so far this season

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College continues its Spring Break week playing five games at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga., starting Friday, March 9, and continuing through Sunday, March 11.