Tallying 27 hits and getting two complete-game pitching performances, the No. 5-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team got back to its winning ways by sweeping a road doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Middle Georgia State University. The Grizzlies took the opener 8-0 in six innings before a 10-0 triumph in the second contest.

GGC (14-4) collected 14 hits and scored in four of the six innings in the opener. Then, the team added 13 hits and pushed across a run during each of its last four offensive innings.

That was more than enough runs to support pitchers Taylor Hansis and Piper Wagner, who posted shutouts in both games. Wagner allowed just two hits in the second game.

Junior Sydney Willhite went 3-for-4 with two RBI to lead the Grizzlies in the first game. Three straight doubles in the third inning by Wagner, senior Crystal Busbee and junior Anya Vandersip gave GGC a 5-0 lead.

Freshman Sydney Pelaez was a single shy of hitting for the cycle in the second contest. Her effort started with a two-run home run in the second inning, before adding a triple in the fourth inning and a double in the fifth frame. She scored three runs and brought home three runs as part of the 3-for-3 performance. Four additional players recorded two hits in the game.
 
Turning Point
GGC broke open the first game with a four-run third inning. Three consecutive run-scoring doubles led the offensive spark. Sophomore Piper Wagner brought home a pair of runs with the first double in the sequence. Senior Crystal Busbee and junior Anya Vandersip followed with RBI doubles as the visitors took a 5-0 lead.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Top of First
Sydney Willhite opened the scoring with a RBI single to left field
 
Top of Third
Piper Wagner gave the Grizzlies a 3-0 lead with a two-run double
Crystal Busbee followed with a RBI double
Anya Vandersip capped the team's four-run frame with a run-scoring double
 


Top of Fourth
Aubree Cox hit a solo home run
 
Top of Sixth
Sydney Willhite brought home Ruth Jones with a single to left field
 
Second Game
Top of Second
Sydney Pelaez connected on a two-run home run, giving GGC an early 2-0 advantage
 
Top of Fourth
Sydney Pelaez hit a RBI triple to score Crystal Busbee
Taylor Takushi recorded a RBI with an infield bunt to bring home Sydney Pelaez
 
Top of Fifth
Piper Wagner hit a run-scoring double to stretch the visitor's lead to 5-0
Crystal Busbee connected on a sacrifice fly for an additional run
 
Top of Seventh
Aubree Cox cleared the bases with a double to end the team's scoring
 
Inside The Numbers

• GGC collected 27 hits in the doubleheader sweep
• Freshman Sydney Pelaez was a single shy of hitting for the cycle in the second game
• Junior Sydney Willhite went 5-for-6 in the two games
• The Grizzlies' pitchers recorded shutouts in both games of the doubleheader

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 14-4 on the season; Middle Georgia State drops to 8-6 in 2019
• Georgia Gwinnett College was ranked No. 5 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll
• The Grizzlies went 8-4 during their 12-game road swing; the team played games in four states (Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia)

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host No. 20 Truett-McConnell University (Ga.) on Tuesday, March 5, at 2 p.m. at the Grizzly Softball Complex.