A single-game school record six home runs and a walk-off victory have the Georgia Gwinnett College softball team undefeated through 10 games for the season and 4-0 in the RussMatt Tournament after two more wins against Florida colleges Saturday afternoon.

The Grizzlies' six homers led to a 15-4 win in five innings against Warner University. Then, GGC (10-0) earned a 4-3 triumph in eight innings against Webber International University – the second straight one-run victory against the team in the tournament.

Junior Sydney Willhite connected on two of the team's six homers against Warner. Her first home run came in the first inning. She then added a two-run home run in the fourth inning.

GGC scored six runs in the third and fourth innings to break open a 1-1 contest. Senior Elyssa Melton hit a three-run home run to give the Grizzlies a 6-1 advantage.

Other home runs were smashed by seniors Crystal Busbee and Aubree Cox, along with sophomore Piper Wagner.

Against Webber International, junior Taylor Takushi hit a walk-off infield single to score senior Tori Robinson for the game-winning run and the come-from-behind victory. Robinson tied the game, 3-3, earlier in the frame with a run-scoring single to left field.

Senior Taylor Hansis picked up the win in both games, the first as a starter and the second as a reliever. That has improved her 2019 record to 6-0. She pitched four innings in the start against Warner (3-2) and then retired the final Webber International batter in the top of eighth inning. Freshman Alexa Good scattered seven hits in 7.2 innings during the starting assignment against the Warriors (4-4).
 
Coach's Corner
"We played really well against Warner, with several hitters providing extra-base hits. It was a fun game, with the six home runs. The Webber International game was a complete-team win. Multiple players came into the game and executed what was necessary to tie the game, then win it in the eighth. The team did a really good job of staying focused during two intense games," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Turning Point
Trailing 3-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, the Grizzlies needed a rally to avoid suffering their first loss of the season. Senior Tori Robinson hit a run-scoring single to left field to score the tying run. Robinson would later come around to score the winning run on an infield base hit from junior Taylor Takushi.
 
Key Plays
Warner Game
Top of First
Sydney Willhite hit a solo home run to open the scoring
 
Top of Third
Sydney Willhite gave the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead with a RBI single
Elyssa Melton connected on a three-run home run
Piper Wagner followed with a solo home run to stretch the lead to 7-1
 
Top of Fourth
Aubree Cox hit a home run to open the scoring in a six-run frame
Sydney Willhite hit her second home run of the game, with a two-run homer
Crystal Busbee connected on the team's sixth home run of the game to score three runs

 
Webber International Game
Bottom of First
Tori Robinson hit a triple to bring home RaeQuinn Rossetti
 
Bottom of Eighth
Tori Robinson tied the game, 3-3, with a RBI single to left field
Taylor Takushi hit a walk-off infield single to bring home Tori Robinson to give the Grizzlies the come-from-behind victory
 
Inside The Numbers

• GGC registered 21 hits across the two games
• The Grizzlies had eight extra-base hits, including six home runs on Saturday
• Senior pitcher Taylor Hansis recorded two wins, one as a starter and another in relief
• Senior Elyssa Melton collected four hits on the day

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 10-0 on the season; Warner falls to 3-2 this spring; and Webber International stands 4-4 in 2019
• Georgia Gwinnett College was ranked No. 5 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll
• GGC recorded its first extra-inning victory since April 25, 2018 -- a 2-1 eight-inning triumph against Emory University (Ga.)
• The Grizzlies have won their first 10 games to open a season for the second consecutive year
• Both victories against Webber International in the RussMatt Tournament have been decided by one-run margins

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College plays Keiser University (Fla.) in a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 17, starting at 9 a.m. to close out action at this weekend's RussMatt Tournament.