The Georgia Gwinnett College softball team registered a pair of victories Saturday at the Grizzly Softball Complex to conclude the season-opening Grizzly Open with a 3-1 record.

The nationally ranked Grizzlies defeated University of Rio Grande (Ohio) 6-5 before picking up a 5-3 victory against Reinhardt University (Ga.).

In the nightcap, junior Piper Wagner broke a 2-2 contest in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two-run double down the right field line. An unearned run would allow the lead to grow to 5-2. The visitors would tally a run in the top of the seven inning before freshman pitcher Gracie Hogg sealed the complete-game victory. She improved to 2-0 in the circle for the young season.

GGC took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning on a two-run single from sophomore Sydney Pelaez.

Reinhardt's Emily Loveless led off the fifth inning with a home run to square the contest, 2-2.

Against Rio Grande, GGC jumped out to a 5-0 lead by the third inning. Three straight RBI singles from freshman Josie Haulk, senior RaeQuinn Rossetti and freshman Kendall Baer accounted for the runs in the second inning.

A run-scoring double from junior Ruth Jones gave the Grizzlies the five-run advantage.

Rio Grande (1-3) battled back to score four runs in the fifth inning.

Rossetti provided a key insurance run in the sixth inning to extend GGC's lead to 6-4. Sophomore pitcher Alexa Good recorded a save after allowing a run in the top of the seventh but kept a possible game-tying run on the base paths. Wagner tossed the first six innings to pick up the victory.

Sophomore Lea McFadden joined Rossetti and Baer in having multiple-hit performances in Saturday's opener.


  Looking to complete a Saturday sweep, GGC managed to score three runs in the sixth inning to take a 5-2 lead over Reinhardt. Junior Piper Wagner broke a tie, 2-2, with a two-run double. A fielding error later in the inning would allow a third run to score.
  Rio Grande Game
Bottom of Second
Josie Haulk gave GGC a 1-0 lead with a RBI single
RaeQuinn Rossetti followed with a run-scoring single
Kendall Baer brought home Josie Haulk with a RBI single
 
Bottom of Third
Lea McFadden hit a run-scoring single to score Anya Vandersip
Ruth Jones extended the Grizzlies' lead to 5-0 with a run-scoring double
 
Top of Fifth
Brooke Hoffman hit a RBI double to begin a four-run frame for the Red Storm
Lexi Philen connected on a two-run double
Kenzie Cremeens added a RBI double to trim the deficit to 5-4
 
Bottom of Sixth
RaeQuinn Rossetti hit a single to left-center field to bring home Holly Janco
 
Reinhardt Game
Bottom of Fourth
Sydney Pelaez gave the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead with a two-run single
 
Top of Fifth
Emily Loveless tied the game, 2-2, with a home run to open the inning for Reinhardt
 
Bottom of Sixth
Piper Wagner lined a two-run double down the right field line to give the hosts the lead
A fielding error allowed Piper Wagner to score
 

• The Grizzlies collected 18 hits across the two games, highlighted by 13 hits in the nightcap against Rio Grande
• GGC hitters struck out just three times across both games
• Senior RaeQuinn Rossetti recorded two steals against Reinhardt

• GGC improves to 3-1 on the season; Rio Grande stands 1-3; and Reinhardt is 4-2 this spring
• Georgia Gwinnett College was ranked No. 5 in the 2020 NAIA Preseason Poll; Rio Grande and Reinhardt received votes in the same poll
• Three of the four games played by GGC at the Grizzly Open were decided by one run

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Montreat College (N.C.) on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m. from the Grizzly Softball Complex.