Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

The Georgia Gwinnett College softball team justified its unanimous No. 1 national NAIA ranking with two convincing home victories against Reinhardt University Tuesday evening at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies (37-2) defeated the Eagles 6-0 in the opener before picking up an 8-0 victory in five innings.

Strong pitching performances paved the way for GGC in the games. First, junior Taylor Hansis scattered six hits over seven scoreless inning to improve to 17-1 on the season. Then, sophomore Alexis Eisenberg allowed just two hits in five scoreless frames.

Georgia Gwinnett College did not commit an error defensively and relied on timely hitting to produce the scoring. Junior Elyssa Melton connected on a bases-clearing triple in the fifth inning to give the hosts a 5-0 lead in the first game. She added two hits and scored two runs in the second contest.

Junior Brianna Fickes drove in three runs and went 3-for-3 to lead the team's 11-hit offensive attack in the nightcap. The team scored two runs in the first and added three runs in the third inning to break the game open.

Before the game, the NAIA office announced that GGC tops the Top 25 ranking for the third straight polling period. The team received all 19 first-place votes from the nationwide panel of coaches – a first-time occurrence for the Grizzlies.

Turning Point

Junior Elyssa Melton broke open the first game with a bases-clearing triple in the fifth inning. Sophomore Anya Vandersip lined a double to right-center field. Infield singles by freshman Holly Janco and senior Niki Cook loaded the bases. Then, Melton lined her triple to give GGC a 5-0 lead. The Grizzlies would take the opener 6-0.

Key Plays

First Game

Bottom of First

Niki Cook scored from third base on the throw of a dropped third strike to give the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead

RaeQuinn Rossetti gave the hosts a 2-0 lead by scoring on a wild pitch

 

Bottom of Fifth

Elyssa Melton cleared the bases with a triple to the right-center field gap

Tori Robinson hit a RBI ground out to bring home Elyssa Melton

 

Second Game

Bottom of First

Tori Robinson opened the scoring with a triple to bring home Elyssa Melton

Brianna Fickes connected on a run-scoring single

 

Bottom of Third

Brianna Fickes drove in a pair with a double to deep center field to give GGC a 4-0 lead

 

Bottom of Fifth

Aubree Cox drove home Brianna Fickes and Quentin Staton with a triple. Cox later scored on the play due to a wild throw

 

Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies tallied 18 hits in the doubleheader sweep
• Elyssa Melton registered 21 putouts at first base, highlighted by 14 putouts in the opener
• Elyssa Melton, Tori Robinson and Brianna Fickes went a combined 7-for-9, with four RBI and five runs scored, while batting in the third, fourth and fifth spots in the batting lineup
• No errors were committed by GGC in the two games

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College improves to 37-2 on the season; Reinhardt falls to 24-22
• GGC is the unanimous No. 1-ranked team in the NAIA in results released by the national office Tuesday, April 10
• The Grizzlies won all three meetings against Reinhardt this season
• The team has won 18 straight games – its longest winning streak of the season

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Truett-McConnell University on Military Appreciation Day Saturday, April 14, at 1 p.m. from the Grizzly Softball Complex. A special flyover featuring a T-38 supersonic jet is set to take place prior in pregame festivities.