Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

The top-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team went the distance while dashing rain showers Sunday afternoon to extend its winning streak to 24 games with a doubleheader sweep, 3-2 and 6-4, at No. 14 Thomas University.
 

The Grizzlies (43-2) trailed 4-0 going into the sixth inning of the second game. That's when the team made a comeback. Senior Niki Cook started things with a triple, and she broke the shutout when sophomore RaeQuinn Rossetti hit a single.

Junior Brianna Fickes cut the deficit even more with a two-run home run, and the game was tied, 4-4, on a RBI single by freshman Piper Wagner.

Then, Sunday's rains caused the teams to wait out an hour-long rain delay.

When play resumed, GGC took its first lead of the game in the seventh inning when Fickes's two-run triple scored Rossetti and junior Elyssa Melton. Wagner nailed down the victory by tossing a scoreless seventh inning.

Thomas (32-12) scored one run in the first and second innings, and added two runs in the fifth inning to take the 4-0 edge in hopes of splitting the doubleheader.

In the opener, GGC took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly from Melton and a RBI single by junior Tori Robinson. A run-scoring single from Cook gave the visitors a 3-0 advantage in the top of the seventh inning.

That's when Thomas attempted a comeback of its own. The team scored two runs and had the potential game-tying and game-winning runs in scoring position. However, Wagner, pitching in relief, got a ground out to end the threat and register the save.

Turning Point

The sixth inning proved critical in the second game as the Grizzlies scored four times and rallied from a 4-0 deficit. A two-run home run from junior Brianna Fickes brought the visitors within one run, 4-3. Freshman Piper Wagner would later tie the game with a run-scoring single. Then, the teams had to wait through an hour rain delay to finish the contest. GGC carried over the momentum to the seventh inning to win the game.

Key Plays

First Game

Top of First

Elyssa Melton opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly to drive home Niki Cook

Tori Robinson gave the visitors a 2-0 lead with a run-scoring single

 

Top of Seventh

Niki Cook brought home Aubree Cox to give GGC a 3-0 lead

 

Bottom of Seventh

Victoria Camina drew a bases-loaded walk to trim GGC's lead to 3-1

Gaby Mora grounded out to second base to score the second run of the inning

With two runners in scoring positions, relief pitcher Piper Wagner proceeded to get Kelsey Connolly to ground out to second base for the game's final out

 

Second Game

Top of Sixth

RaeQuinn Rossetti began the comeback with a RBI single to bring home Niki Cook

Brianna Fickes hit a two-run home run to cut GGC's deficit to 4-3

Piper Wagner tied the game with a run-scoring single

 

Top of Seventh

After an one-hour rain delay, Brianna Fickes connected on a triple to bring home RaeQuinn Rossetti and Elyssa Meltonand give the Grizzlies their first lead of the game

 

Inside The Numbers

• Brianna Fickes, RaeQuinn Rossetti and Tori Robinson each recorded multiple-hit efforts in the second game
• GGC collected 16 hits in the doubleheader
• Piper Wagner recorded the win in the second game and a save in the opener

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College improves to 43-2 on the season; Thomas drops to 32-12 in 2018
• GGC is the unanimous No. 1-ranked team in the NAIA Top 25 poll; Thomas is ranked No. 14 in the poll
• Sunday's doubleheader marked GGC's final road games of regular season
• The Grizzlies have won 24 straight games

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host No. 18 Faulkner University Tuesday, April 24, at 4 p.m. from the Grizzly Softball Complex.