Something about the opening round of the Association of Independent Institutions Softball Championship tournament brings out the best in Georgia Gwinnett College pitcher Taylor Hansis.

For the second straight season, the senior opened postseason play by pitching a no-hitter, allowing just one base runner in a commanding 11-0 five-inning victory Thursday against Talladega College in the first game of tournament play at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

"I opened the game with a very good screwball, but as the [Talladega] hitters adjusted, so did I and went with some curveballs later in the game. I wanted to come out today and showcase how dominant we can be for our postseason run," said Hansis, the A.I.I.'s three-time Pitcher of the Year.

Meanwhile, sophomore Piper Wagner propelled GGC's offense with a three-run homer in the first inning. The team added four runs in the third and fourth innings to build the eventual 11-0 margin of victory.

Top-seeded Georgia Gwinnett College (37-14) collected 13 hits and had four players record multiple hits. Wagner drove in three runs and scored twice. Senior Elyssa Melton had two hits and scored two runs for the hosts. Junior Sydney Willhite and freshman Sydney Pelaez rounded out the multiple-hit efforts.

The Grizzles will now face No. 3-seeded Edward Waters College (Fla.) on Friday, May 3, starting at noon. The winner of that contest advances to the championship round. Edward Waters defeated No. 2-seeded Crowley's Ridge College (Ark.) 12-4 in six innings in Thursday's other first-round game of the double-elimination tournament.


 
Coach's Corner
"We work all season to put ourselves in the best position to win games in the postseason, when they matter most. Everything leads up to our performances in May. Today's outcome lets me know that we're in a good place," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Turning Point
The top-seeded tournament hosts broke the game open with a two-run single in the third inning from junior RaeQuinn Rossetti. That hit gave the Grizzlies a 6-0 lead. The team scored four runs in the third and fourth innings of the first-round game.
           
Key Plays
Top of First
Piper Wagner connected on a three-run home run
 
Top of Third
Elyssa Melton hit a run-scoring double that brought home Sydney Pelaez
RaeQuinn Rossetti drove in a pair of runs with a single
Crystal Busbee capped a four-run inning with a RBI double
 
Top of Fourth
Elyssa Melton's RBI single gave the Grizzlies an 8-0 lead
Ruth Jones singled to left field to score Sydney Pelaez
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies had 13 hits in the first-round victory
• Senior Elyssa Melton, junior Sydney Willhite, sophomore Piper Wagner and freshman Sydney Pelaez each collected two hits
• GGC had five extra-base hits, highlighted by four doubles
• Senior Taylor Hansis tossed her third career no-hitter, including her second of the 2019 season

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 37-14 on the season; Talladega drops to 6-33 in 2019
• Georgia Gwinnett College is the top seed in the double-elimination tournament; Talladega stood as the No. 4 seed
• The Grizzlies are ranked No. 9 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
• Senior Taylor Hansis has tossed no-hitters in the opening game of the A.I.I. Softball Championships during the 2019 and 2018 seasons; beating Crowley's Ridge College 8-0 on May 3, 2018
• GGC has defeated Talladega five times this season, outscoring the Tornadoes by a 71-to-1 margin in those games

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College faces No. 3-seeded Edward Waters College (Fla.) in a winner's bracket contest on Friday, May 3, at noon at the Grizzly Softball Complex. Edward Waters defeated Crowley's Ridge College (Ark.) 12-4 in six innings during Thursday's opening round.