The No. 7-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team extended its season-opening win streak to 16 games behind a pair of contrasting victories in Friday's opening day of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic.

First, the Grizzlies' offense erupted for a 9-2 win against Georgetown College (Ky.). Then, a ground ball by freshman Holly Janco in a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the seventh inning allowed junior Aubree Cox to score in a 5-4 walk-off victory against St. Ambrose University (Iowa).

In a matchup of unbeaten teams, St. Ambrose (6-1) took an early lead by scoring three runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run home run by Lexie Carlsten. GGC (16-0) also wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, tallying two runs in the second inning. A RBI double by Cox opened the scoring in the frame.

The Grizzlies' tied the game, 4-4, on a ground out by sophomore RaeQuinn Rossetti in the fourth inning. The team loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning to up Janco's game-winning strike.

GGC had 12 hits in each game of the twinbill. Junior Taylor Hansis picked up her seventh win in the circle in the St. Ambrose contest.

In Friday's first game, senior Niki Cook and Rossetti tallied seven hits and scored five runs from the top of the batting lineup. Cook went 4-for-4 with three runs scored, while Rossetti collected three hits and one RBI. The offense helped freshman Piper Wagner improve to 6-0 on the season in the complete-game performance.

The Grizzlies took advantage of two passed balls and a fielding error to score two unearned runs in the first inning. The big blow came one inning later when sophomores Sydney Willhite and Rosetti had run-scoring base hits to give the team an early 5-1 advantage.

Georgetown (9-4), which received votes in the NAIA Top 25 preseason poll, scored its only runs with single efforts in the first and third innings. However, GGC answered each of the Tigers' scores with multiple runs in the next half inning.

Turning Point

With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, freshman Holly Janco put the ball in play by hitting a sharp ground ball to the first baseman. The St. Ambrose fielder stepped on the bag for the second out and did not get off a throw to home plate as junior Aubree Cox crossed the plate for the game-winning run. GGC left the bases loaded on two other occasions in the game.

Key Plays

First Game

Top of First

A passed ball allowed Niki Cook to score after the senior opened the game with a triple down the left-field line

A ground out from Sydney Willhite brought home RaeQuinn Rossetti from third base to give GGC a 2-0 lead

Top of Second

RaeQuinn Rossetti lined a single with the bases loaded to score the first of three runs in the frame

Sydney Willhite gave the Grizzlies a 5-1 lead with a two-run single

Top of Fourth

After a base hit by RaeQuinn Rossetti, a throwing error on an infield play allowed Niki Cook to score. Cook was moving from first to third on the base hit.

Elyssa Melton hit a sacrifice fly to bring home RaeQuinn Rossetti

Second Game

Bottom of Second

Aubree Cox doubled down the right-field line to score Tori Robinson

A throwing error allowed Cox to score and cut GGC's deficit to 3-2

Bottom of Third

Elyssa Melton hit a run-scoring single to bring the Grizzlies within one run, 4-3

Bottom of Fourth

RaeQuinn Rossetti tied the game, 4-4, on a ground out to second base

Bottom of Seventh

With the bases loaded, Holly Janco hit a ground ball to first base. The fielder elected to take the force out at first base before looking home. This play allowed Aubree Cox to score without a throw.

Inside The Numbers

• GGC tallied 12 hits in each game Friday
• Six of GGC's nine runs against Georgetown were unearned due to three defensive errors
• Niki Cook went 6-for-8 from the leadoff spot in the batting lineup across both games
• Aubree Cox tallied the only extra-base hits with a triple and double against St. Ambrose

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College improves to 16-0 on the season; Georgetown falls to 9-4; St. Ambrose lost for the first time this season, now being 6-1
• GGC holds a 4-1 edge in the series and has won the last four meetings against Georgetown; this was the first meeting with St. Ambrose
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 7 in the NAIA preseason Top 25 poll; Georgetown received votes in the poll

Up Next

The NFCA Leadoff Classic continues with three games Saturday, March 10, due to the threat of rain Sunday. The Grizzlies are scheduled to face Warner University (Fla.) at 11 a.m. before playing Lawrence Technological University at 1:30 p.m. GGC then will face Ottawa University (Kan.) at 6 p.m.