The No. 5-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team rallied with four runs in the sixth inning of Friday's second game to earn a split in the first day of the season-opening Grizzly Open at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

Both games were decided by one-run margins, with the Grizzlies dropping a 3-2 contest to the University of Rio Grande (Ohio) in the opener. Then, GGC (1-1) earned a 5-4 victory against the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) in the nightcap.

Trailing 3-1 in the sixth inning against Cumberlands, the tournament hosts got base hits from juniors Holly Janco and Ruth Jones to load the bases. A ground out by senior Taylor Takushi trimmed the deficit to 3-2. Then, senior RaeQuinn Rossetti delivered a two-run single to score Janco and Jones, giving GGC the 4-3 lead – marking its first lead of the opening day of the season.

Freshman Kendall Baer followed with a RBI single to extend the lead to 5-3 and cap the four-run sixth inning.

Cumberlands (0-2) got the game-tying run into scoring position, but GGC's freshman pitcher Gracie Hogg sealed the victory by inducing a fly out to right field. The right hander struck out four batters in the complete-game performance.

Earlier, Cumberlands took a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning on a two-run home run from Madison Huber.

In Georgia Gwinnett College's tournament opener, Rio Grande broke a 2-2 deadlock with a RBI double from Lexi Philen for the one-run victory. The Red Storm (1-1) scored two runs in the first inning, only to see the Grizzlies chip away. Sophomore Lea McFadden connected on a run-scoring single in the bottom of the first. Then, senior Anya Vandersip executed a squeeze bunt in the fourth inning to tie the contest at 2-2.
  One inning after leaving the bases loaded, the Grizzlies managed to tally four runs and grab their first lead of the 2020 season while playing in the second game of the Grizzly Open. Senior RaeQuinn Rossetti lined a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning to bring home juniors Holly Janco and Ruth Jones. The base hit gave GGC a 4-3 lead. Rossetti would later score a key insurance run on a base hit by freshman Kendall Baer.
  "We found our energy in the dugout (in the sixth inning of the second game). Each team has a different way of performing with their energy, but this team found it. They were loud and rooting for each other. Then, the hits happened, but it was the process that created that rally," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  Rio Grande Game
Top of First
Kenzie Cremeens lined a two-run double to give the Red Storm a quick 2-0 lead
 
Bottom of First
Lea McFadden trimmed the deficit to 2-1 with a RBI single for GGC
 
Bottom of Fourth
Anya Vandersip executed a sacrifice bunt to bring home McFadden to square the contest at 2-2
 
Top of Seventh
Lexi Philen hit a RBI double to left field to score the eventual game-winning run
 
Cumberlands Game
Top of First
A throwing error allowed Maddie Sickau to score from second base and give the visitors a 1-0 lead
 
Bottom of Third
Piper Wagner tied the game, 1-1, with a RBI single to right field that brought home RaeQuinn Rossetti
 
Top of Fourth
Madison Huber connected on a two-run home run to give the Patriots a 3-1 advantage
 
Bottom of Sixth
Taylor Takushi opened the four-run inning with a RBI ground out
RaeQuinn Rossetti gave GGC its first lead of the day, 4-3, with a two-run single up the middle
Kendall Baer followed with a RBI single to bring home Rossetti
 

• The Grizzlies collected 16 hits across the two games, highlighted by 10 hits against Cumberlands
• GGC recorded four stolen bases
• Sophomore Alexa Good threw 99 pitches and freshman Gracie Hogg had 100 pitches in the pair of complete-game pitching performances

• GGC stands 1-1 on the season; Rio Grande also split its two games to open the 2020 season; and Cumberlands is 0-2 this spring
• Georgia Gwinnett College was ranked No. 5 in the 2020 NAIA Preseason Poll; Rio Grande and Cumberlands received votes in the same poll
• Four players made their collegiate debuts for GGC on Friday

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to conclude the Grizzly Open on Saturday, Feb. 15, by playing the University of Rio Grande (Ohio) at 1 p.m. and Reinhardt University (Ga.) at 5 p.m. from the Grizzly Softball Complex.