Shutouts from pitchers Taylor Hansis and Piper Wagner led the No. 5-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team to a pair of victories against Florida opponents Friday in the first day of action in the RussMatt Tournament.

Playing on the road for the first time, the Grizzlies used Hansis' gem in the pitching circle to defeat No. 22 Southeastern University 2-0 in the opener. Then, a seventh-inning home run by junior designated player Sydney Willhite lifted GGC and Wagner past Webber International University 1-0.

Hansis, a senior, improved to 4-0 on the season when she struck out eight batters and issued just one hit against the Fire. Then, Wagner, a sophomore, scattered four hits in registering her second shutout of the 2019 season.

Against Southeastern (3-2), senior Aubree Cox scored in the third inning when a throwing error got away from the first baseman on an infield single from sophomore Holly Janco. Cox added a fielder's choice to bring home junior Anya Vandersip in the fourth inning to give GGC the winning 2-0 edge.

In the nightcap, Willhite led off the top of the seventh inning with a home run over the center field fence. Both teams managed four hits in the contest. Webber International (4-2) had the potential game-tying run at second base in the bottom of the seventh inning. However, Wagner got a ground out to seal the victory.
 
Coach's Corner
"We got two really strong pitching performances. Sydney had a clutch hit in the second game. It was one of the most energetic games that we have played in a long time. We really brought it in both games. Pitching and defense were very strong all day long," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Turning Point
Locked in a pitcher's duel in the second game, the Grizzlies were the first team to break into the scoring column. Junior designated player Sydney Willhite led off the top of the seventh inning with a home run to center field. It was just one of four hits the team would record in the game. Then, sophomore pitcher Piper Wagner nailed down the victory with a scoreless bottom of the seventh inning. Wagner tossed her second shutout of the season.
 
Key Plays
Southeastern Game
Bottom of Third
Aubree Cox scored as a throwing error gets away from the first baseman on an infield single by Holly Janco
 
Bottom of Fourth
Aubree Cox hit a fielder's choice with the bases loaded to bring home Anya Vandersip, giving GGC a 2-0 lead
 
Webber International Game
Top of Seventh
Sydney Willhite led off the inning with a home run to break the scoreless game
 
Bottom of Seventh
Webber International's Daisy Riggleman grounded out to first base with the potential game-tying run at second base. That GGC defensive play ended the contest
 
Inside The Numbers

• GGC pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts in the two games
• Junior Sydney Willhite collected two of the team's nine hits on the day
• Freshman catcher Sydney Pelaez threw out an opposing base runner in the Southeastern game
• The Grizzlies left six base runners during the Southeastern contest

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 8-0 on the season; Southeastern falls to 3-2 in 2019; and Webber International stands 4-2 this spring
• Georgia Gwinnett College was ranked No. 5 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll; Southeastern was No. 22
• GGC has outscored the opposition 70-12 through its first eight games
• The Grizzlies were playing their first road games of the 2019 season

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College faces Warner University (Fla.) and Webber International on Saturday, Feb. 16 at the RussMatt Tournament in Auburndale, Fla. The first game of the day is scheduled to start at 11 a.m., with the second at 1 p.m.