Strong performances at the plate and in the pitching circle have garnered Georgia Gwinnett College junior Gabe Austin and sophomore Piper Wagner recognition as the Association of Independent Institutions' Baseball and Softball Players of the Week.

Austin, a catcher from Summerville, S.C., was named the Baseball Hitter of the Week after connecting on three home runs in six games last week. He batted .545 (6 for 11) and had seven RBI as the Grizzlies added five victories to the team's 14-4 record.

The junior hit his first home run of the season in a victory against Truett-McConnell University (Ga.) on Tuesday. He then connected on home runs in consecutive home games against Saint Xavier University (Ill.) over the weekend.

Austin scored three runs and legged out one double in recording a 1.455 slugging percentage for the week. Defensively, he threw out three of the four opposing baserunners in steal attempts made across six games.

After a slow start to the season, Austin is hitting .310 with three home runs among his nine hits.

The GGC baseball team is scheduled to play at Thomas University (Ga.) for a three-game series March 8-10 in Thomasville, Ga.

As Softball Pitcher of the Week, Wagner went 1-0 and did not allow a run in nine innings among two pitching appearances. The sophomore recorded a shutout in a 10-0 road win against Middle Georgia State University last Saturday. That came after she came in relief against No. 8 University of Mobile (Ala.) last Monday.

The Marietta, Ga., native held the opposition to a .069 batting average for the week, allowing just two hits in two outings. She recorded five strikeouts compared to having two walks.

For the season, Wagner has a 4-0 record and 24 strikeouts in seven appearances. She contributes to the nationally ranked Grizzlies when not in the circle, posting a .347 batting average with seven doubles and one home run.

The softball team is 14-4 this spring and plays six of its eight games this week at the Grizzly Softball Complex. Up first is a doubleheader against Truett-McConnell on Tuesday, March 5, at 2 p.m. Then, the Grizzlies hosts Ave Maria University (Fla.) on Wednesday, March 6, at 2 p.m. A home doubleheader against the University of South Carolina Beaufort concludes the week on Sunday, March 10, at 1 p.m.