Senior Sydney Willhite connected on a three-run walk-off home run to cap a five-run ninth inning as the No. 5-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team swept a doubleheader against No. 7 University of Mobile (Ala.) on Sunday afternoon at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies (7-3) held off a Mobile rally in the seventh inning to win the opener 4-3 before coming back to win the nightcap 9-8 in nine innings, thanks to Willhite's blast.

After allowing four runs with two outs to trail 8-4 in the top of the ninth inning, GGC's comeback started with run-scoring singles from freshman Kendall Baer and sophomore Sydney Pelaez. That got the team within two, 8-6. Then, with two runners on base, Willhite sent a 3-1 pitch deep over the left field wall to provide a thrilling conclusion to the contest.

The Grizzlies forced extra innings on a RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning from Pelaez, tying the game 4-4. The hosts left the bases loaded after back-to-back fielder's choice plays. The team also stranded the game-winning run at third base in the eighth inning.

In the ninth frame, Mobile (1-3) took a 6-4 lead on a two-run single from Eila Infante. Back-to-back run-scoring singles from Allison Vincent and Lindsie Sanders gave the Rams the 8-4 advantage.

But, the Grizzlies had an answer yet again.

Baer and Pelaez led GGC's 13-hit offensive attack, with each recording three hits. Pelaez joined Willhite in driving in three runs, while Baer scored twice. Senior Anya Vandersip and Willhite each had two hits for the team.

In the opener, sophomore Alexa Good struck out five batters and kept the Rams off the scoreboard until the seventh inning. Sophomore Lea McFadden hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning to give Georgia Gwinnett College a 4-0 advantage.

Willhite hit a double down the left field line to score Pelaez in the second inning for a 1-0 lead.

Mobile threatened in the seventh inning, trimming the deficit to 4-2 on a RBI single by Courtney Ellzey. A sacrifice fly brought home another run after GGC went to reliever Gracie Hogg. The right hander induced Kaylee Pullin to fly out to right field to secure the victory.

Hogg went the distance in the pitching circle in the second contest to improve her record to 3-1 on the season.


  The Grizzlies were gaining momentum with each at bat in the deciding ninth inning. Freshman Kendall Baer led off the inning with a single to bring home senior RaeQuinn Rossetti, who had been placed at second base through the international tiebreaker rule. A wild pitch and a walk to junior Piper Wagner put runners on the corner. Sophomore Sydney Pelaez delivered a RBI single to score Baer, cutting the deficit to 8-6. Then, senior Sydney Willhite hit a towering three-run walk-off home run to cap the exciting victory and doubleheader sweep.
  "When the game gives you an opportunity, who is going to take advantage of it? Sydney (Willhite) is a veteran in our lineup. You want someone like her in those situations to win the game. The pressure was off us when we started the inning (trailing 8-4). You're not thinking about getting the winning run, just trying to start something and pass along energy to the next player. That's what we did tonight," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  First Game
Bottom of Second
Sydney Willhite lined a RBI double down the left field line to score Sydney Pelaez and give GGC a 1-0 lead
 
Bottom of Sixth
Lea McFadden connected on a three-run home run to extend the host's lead to 4-0
 
Top of Seventh
Courtney Ellzey hit a run-scoring single to bring the Rams within two runs, 4-2
Emily Butts hit a sacrifice fly to make it even closer, 4-3
 
Second Game
Bottom of First
Sydney Pelaez opened the scoring with a RBI double
 
Top of Second
Taylor LeDrew connected on a solo home run to tie the game, 1-1, for Mobile
 
Top of Third
Allison Vincent gave the Rams a 2-1 lead with a RBI double
Emily Butts hit another run-scoring double
 
Bottom of Fifth
Piper Wagner hit a RBI double to right field to bring home Holly Janco and cut the deficit to 3-2
 
Bottom of Sixth
Anya Vandersip tied the game, 3-3, on a RBI single
 
Top of Seventh
Eila Infante hit a run-scoring double to left field as the Rams regained the lead 4-3
 
Bottom of Seventh
Sydney Pelaez hit a single to deep left-center field to score Kendall Baer to tie the contest, 4-4
 
Top of Ninth
Eila Infante once again gave the visitors the lead with a two-run single
 
Bottom of Ninth
Kendall Baer began the comeback with a run-scoring single
Sydney Pelaez hit a RBI single to score Kendall Baer to trim the deficit to 8-6
Sydney Willhite connected on a three-run walk-off home run to left field
 

• The Grizzlies tallied 18 hits across the two games, highlighted by 13 hits in the nightcap
• Sophomore Sydney Pelaez went 4-for-7, with three RBI, in the two games
• Senior Sydney Willhite recorded 11 putouts at first base
• Freshman Gracie Hogg picked up her second save of the season

• GGC improves to 7-3 on the season; Mobile falls to 1-3 in 2020
• Georgia Gwinnett College was ranked No. 5 in the 2020 NAIA Preseason Poll; Mobile stood No. 7 in the same poll
• The series is now tied at 4-4, with the Grizzlies winning the last three meetings
• The Grizzlies played their first 10 games at home, posting a 7-3 record

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to compete in the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga., from Feb. 28-March 1.