Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

The No. 1-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team ended the 2018 regular season how it all began, with a dramatic 2-1 victory against NCAA Division III Emory University Wednesday evening at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

GGC ended the regular season with a 46-3 record. The team started the season with a 2-1 victory Feb. 9 at home against the College of Coastal Georgia.

Senior Niki Cook lined a run-scoring single in the eighth inning to score junior Aubree Cox for the Grizzlies' walk-off victory. That came after the visiting Eagles picked up a 3-2 win in the opening game of the night – the first home loss for GGC this season.

The hosts took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning of the second game on a RBI single from junior Elyssa Melton. Emory then tied the game in the sixth inning on a two-out base hit.

Both teams battled to score the decisive second run during each following inning. In the eighth, Emory was unable to score after beginning the inning with a runner at second base through the international tiebreak rule.

In Georgia Gwinnett College's half of the eighth inning, sophomore Anya Vandersip laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Cox to third base. Two walks and a fly out setup the critical at bat for Cook.

Freshman pitcher Piper Wagner allowed eight hits over eight innings in the circle to improve to 16-0 on the season.

Offensively, five players registered two hits apiece for the Grizzlies in the nightcap. Freshman Holly Janco went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Juniors Brianna Fickes and Melton joined sophomore RaeQuinn Rossetti and Cook in also having two hits.

In the first game, GGC took a 2-1 lead in the first inning on a two-run double from sophomore Sydney Willhite. Emory would tie the game, 2-2, in the third inning and took the lead on a run-scoring single from Sarah Flanders in the sixth inning.

Cook tallied three of GGC's nine hits in the game, while Rossetti added two hits and scored a run.

Turning Point

After Emory was unable to score in the eighth inning of the second game GGC needed just one run to win the game. A sacrifice bunt from sophomore Anya Vandersip moved the game-winning run to third base with one out. Two walks and a fly out later loaded the bases with two outs for senior Niki Cook. The outfielder delivered a line drive past the third baseman to score junior Aubree Cox for the 2-1 victory.

Key Plays

First Game

Bottom of First

Sydney Willhite lined a two-run double to give GGC a 2-1 lead

 

Top of Sixth

Sarah Flanders broke a 2-2 tie with a run-scoring single for Emory

 

Second Game

Bottom of Third

Elyssa Melton brought home Holly Janco with a RBI single

 

Bottom of Seventh

Niki Cook hit a walk-off single past the third baseman to give the Grizzlies the win

 

Inside The Numbers

• Leadoff hitter Niki Cook collected five hits in the doubleheader
• GGC outhit the Eagles 21-to-16 in the two games
• Quentin Staton recorded eight assists in the second game

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College improves to 46-3 on the season; Emory stands 24-10 in 2018
• GGC is the unanimous No. 1-ranked team in the NAIA Top 25 poll
• The Grizzlies ended the regular season with a 29-1 home record

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College is hosting the 2018 Association of Independent Institutions Softball Championships May 3-5 at the Grizzly Softball Complex.