The Georgia Gwinnett College softball team added a pair of impressive victories in Saturday's play at the Gulf Coast Invitational, defeating the nationally ranked University of Houston-Victoria 3-2 and perennial south region contender LSU Alexandria 4-0 in Gulf Shores, Ala.

The No. 10-ranked Grizzlies (12-7) got a dominant starting pitching performance from freshman Gracie Hogg against Houston-Victoria, ranked No. 23 in the first NAIA regular-season poll. The right hander scattered three hits and retired 15 straight batters at one point in the contest.

GGC pushed across one run in the first and second innings to grab an early 2-1 lead. A RBI single from senior Sydney Willhite in the opening frame tied the contest. Then, freshman Josie Haulk executed a squeeze bunt in the second inning to give the team a 2-1 lead.

A sacrifice fly from junior Holly Janco in the fifth inning added a key insurance run. Houston-Victoria (8-9) scored a run in the seventh inning after a base hit from Maricruz Martinez.

Against LSU Alexandria, the Grizzlies scored twice in the first inning to grab early momentum. RBI ground outs from senior RaeQuinn Rossetti and sophomore Sydney Pelaez provided the scoring.

The lead grew to 3-0 in the fourth inning on a run-scoring single from junior Piper Wagner.

Hogg would pick up her second victory of the day with 3.1 scoreless innings in relief of starting pitcher sophomore Alexa Good, who had three strikeouts in 3.2 innings in the center circle.

Willhite led GGC's offensive attack by going 5-for-7 at the plate. The Grizzlies collected 17 hits across the two games.

Georgia Gwinnett College has won three of its four games at this weekend's Gulf Coast Invitational, with two more games scheduled to be played on Sunday, March 8.
  After allowing a first-inning run against Houston-Victoria, the Grizzlies answered with a run in the bottom of the first inning and another tally in the second frame to grab a 2-1 lead. Senior Sydney Willhite hit a RBI single in the first inning to bring home classmate RaeQuinn Rossetti. Then, a squeeze bunt from freshman Josie Haulk opened the opportunity for junior Holly Janco to score. Freshman pitcher Gracie Hogg retired 15 straight batters from the end of the first inning to the second out of the sixth inning.
  Houston-Victoria Game
Bottom of First
Sydney Willhite tied the game, 1-1, with a RBI single to score RaeQuinn Rossetti
 
Bottom of Second
Josie Haulk hit a squeeze bunt to give the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead
 
Bottom of Fifth
Holly Janco connected on a sacrifice fly to bring home Sydney Pelaez
 
LSU Alexandria Game
Bottom of First
RaeQuinn Rossetti hit a RBI ground out to score Lea McFadden
Sydney Pelaez added a second RBI ground out to give GGC a 2-0 lead
 
Bottom of Third
Piper Wagner hit a run-scoring single to bring home RaeQuinn Rossetti
 
Bottom of Fourth
Lea McFadden gave the Grizzlies a 4-0 lead with a RBI ground out
 

• GGC outhit its two opponents on Saturday by a combined 17-7 margin
• Senior Sydney Willhite went 5-for-7 during Saturday's action
• Freshman pitcher Gracie Hogg retired 15 consecutive batters in the Houston-Victoria contest

• GGC improves to 12-7 on the season; Houston-Victoria stands 8-9 in 2020; LSU Alexandria drops to 4-9 this spring
• Georgia Gwinnett College was ranked No. 10 in the first regular-season poll of the 2020 season; Houston-Victoria stood No. 23 in the same poll
• The Grizzlies have won three of their four games at the Gulf Coast Invitational

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to conclude play at the Gulf Coast Invitational on Sunday, March 8. The Grizzlies will play Lyon College (Ark.) at 3 p.m. before facing No. 18 William Carey University (Miss.) at 5 p.m.