A strong offensive display led the No. 5-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team to a pair of victories against two opponents Friday during the first day of the Grizzly Open at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies scored 23 runs on 21 hits in defeating the University of Rio Grande (Ohio) 5-1 and Bluefield College (Va.) 18-4 in five innings.

GGC (4-0) has outscored the opposition 44-5 through its first four games.

In the first game, the hosts used timely hitting in the middle innings to eventually pull away from the Red Storm. Back-to-back RBI singles from junior Taylor Takushi and freshman Sydney Pelaez gave Georgia Gwinnett College a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. Senior Aubree Cox followed with a sacrifice fly to add another run later in the frame.

Junior Sydney Willhite smashed a two-run home run in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 5-0.

Rio Grande (1-1), receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll, got a two-out RBI base hit in the seventh inning – the first run that pitcher Taylor Hansis has allowed this season. She had eight strikeouts to record her second victory of the season.

GGC struck early against Bluefield, scoring 10 runs on 11 hits in the first inning. In fact, the team brought home runs during all four of its offensive innings. Willhite collected two hits and drove in a pair of runs, while junior Anya Vandersip scored three runs against the Rams.

Junior Jordin Englar allowed four hits to win her first game of the season. She now has a 6-0 career record in the circle for GGC.

Rio Grande defeated Bluefield 8-6 in eight innings to round out Friday's action.


 
Coach's Corner
"We had an outstanding offensive performance for the day. We focused our preseason on getting quality hitting. There was a variety of quality at bats and plays, contributing through hit by pitches, walks, base hits, stolen bases and moving runners. We learned to make some in-game adjustments to help us pull out the victory against Rio Grande. Those adjustments were made by our veteran hitters," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Turning Point
Junior Sydney Willhite hit a towering two-run home run to left field to give GGC a commanding 5-0 lead against Rio Grande in the fifth inning.
 
Key Plays
Rio Grande Game
Bottom of Fourth
Taylor Takushi singled through the left side of the infield to bring home Elyssa Melton for the first run of the contest
Sydney Pelaez gave GGC 2-0 with a run-scoring single
Aubree Cox hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Taylor Takushi
 
Bottom of Fifth
Sydney Willhite connected on a two-run home run over the left field fence to extend the lead to 5-0

 
Bluefield Game
Bottom of First
Sydney Willhite brought home Tori Robinson with a RBI single to open the scoring
Piper Wagner connected on a two-run double to give GGC a 3-0 lead
Elyssa Melton hit a double to score two more runs to cap a 10-run first inning
 
Bottom of Second
Aubree Cox hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Anya Vandersip
Ruth Jones also hit a sacrifice fly later in the inning
 
Inside The Numbers

• GGC collected 21 hits between the two games
• Junior Sydney Willhite went 4-for-5, with four RBI, including a two-run home run in the two games
• Junior Anya Vandersip scored three runs in the Bluefield contest
• Six players scored at least two runs in the Bluefield game
• Thirteen different players recorded one at bat in the finale
• Pitchers Taylor Hansis and Jordin Englar combined for 15 strikeouts across 12 innings in the doubleheader sweep
• The Grizzlies collected seven extra-base hits in the two games

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 4-0 on the season; Rio Grande stands 1-1 in 2019; and Bluefield is 0-2 this spring
• Georgia Gwinnett College was ranked No. 5 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll; Rio Grande was receiving votes in the same poll
• The Grizzlies leads the all-time series with Rio Grande 4-1 and leads Bluefield 3-0
• GGC has outscored the opposition 44-5 through its first four games

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College concludes the Grizzly Open with two more games against the University of Rio Grande (Ohio) and Bluefield College (Va.) on Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Grizzly Softball Complex. The games are scheduled to start at noon and 2 p.m.