The No. 4-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team split the first two games of its California trip Friday against No. 7 Hope International University in Fullerton.

The Grizzlies (27-7) won the opener 5-1 in eight innings before the host Royals came back for a 3-2 victory in the nightcap.

The team was playing its first game since March 17 and came a day after taking a cross-country flight Thursday to begin the first of three doubleheaders against California-based opponents.

Senior Tori Robinson drove in three runs and provided the big base hit in extra innings to close out the opener. She drove in a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning.

Earlier in the game, the shortstop connected on a home run in the second inning to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Hope International (33-6) would square the game in the third inning on a RBI single from Bree Maikai.

Both teams would not score until the Grizzlies finally broke through with Robinson's two-out base hit in the eighth inning. A throwing error allowed two additional runs to score.

Senior pitcher Taylor Hansis struck out nine batters and allowed five hits in winning the opener in the circle.

In the second game, Hope International pushed across two runs in the fourth inning to take a 3-2 lead.

Robinson provided the scoring for the Grizzlies with a sacrifice fly in the first inning and a RBI ground out in the third inning. GGC led 2-1 before the Royals responded with the two-run inning to take the lead.
 
Turning Point
With the bases loaded in the eighth inning of the opener, GGC got a clutch base hit from senior Tori Robinson. The shortstop lifted a base hit just past the infield and in front of the outfield to give GGC a 3-1 lead. A throwing error would bring home two additional runs for the visitors.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Top of Second
Tori Robinson led off the inning with a home run over the left field fence
 
Bottom of Third
Bree Maikai tied the game, 1-1, with a run-scoring single
 
Top of Eighth
Tori Robinson hit a two-run single, with two outs, to give GGC the lead
A throwing error allowed two additional runs to score
 
Second Game
Top of First
Tori Robinson hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Holly Janco for the first run of the game
 
Top of Third
RaeQuinn Rossetti scored on a groundout to give the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead
 

Bottom of Fourth
Hope International's Nicole Wise tied the game, 2-2, with a RBI single and a fielding error; she later scored on a passed ball
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies recorded nine hits in the doubleheader
• Senior Tori Robinson drove in five runs between the two games, including three in the opener
• Senior Taylor Hansis had nine strikeouts in the first-game victory

News & Notes

• GGC stands 27-7 on the season; Hope International is 33-6
• Georgia Gwinnett College stood No. 4 in the NAIA Top 25 poll; Hope International was No. 7 in the same poll
• The team is 8-2 on the road in 2019
• First-game starting pitcher Taylor Hansis has a 13-4 record for the season
• Friday's doubleheader marked the first games between the two programs

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play Menlo College (Calif.) in a neutral site contest from Fullerton on Sunday, March 30, at 3 p.m. eastern (noon PT).