Late offensive surges paved the way as the No. 10-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team swept both games of Friday's doubleheader by 6-5 and 7-1 scores against No. 9 Truett-McConnell University (Georgia) at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies (4-0) scored five runs with two outs in the seventh inning to win the opener before tallying six runs across the fifth and sixth frames to capture the second outing.

Freshman Christina Zeppa hit a two-run walk-off double to right field for her first collegiate hit to complete the hectic finish in the first game of the day. GGC trailed 5-1 before starting the comeback on an RBI groundout from junior Piper Wagner. Sophomore Sydney Pelaez connected on a two-run home run to bring the hosts within 5-4. A few batters later, Zeppa delivered her decisive hit.

Truett-McConnell (0-2) pushed across four runs in the fourth inning to build its 5-1 lead. Briley Lawson hit a two-run home run in the frame.

In the second game, the Grizzlies scored four times in the fifth inning to grab a 5-1 advantage and then added two more runs in the sixth inning. Freshman Jenna Gabrielli gave GGC the lead with a two-run double during the pivotal fifth inning. Junior Holly Janco would drive in one run during both the fifth and sixth innings.

GGC collected 18 hits during the doubleheader sweep, led by Pelaez's 3-for-6 performance and two RBI. Gabrielli drove in four runs Friday.
 

Grizzly of the Day: Christina Zappa vs Truett-McConnell (Ga.)#GGCAthletics pic.twitter.com/adkA5X0O0N

— GGC Softball (@GGC_Softball) February 13, 2021

  "We were very engaged in the dugout during the seventh inning (of the first game) and it started to affect their (Truett-McConnell) pitcher. Once we got the first run, our offense really took off. Christina (Zeppa) had a really good approach in her first at-bat and we have liked her approach in practice. We were confident that she would come through for us in a clutch situation," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  Trailing 5-1 in the seventh inning in the first game, the Grizzlies scored five runs with two outs in the bottom of the frame. An RBI groundout from junior Piper Wagner scored the first run before sophomore Sydney Pelaez struck a towering two-run home run to trim the deficit to 5-4. A few batters later, freshman Christina Zeppa delivered the first hit of her collegiate career with a walk-off double to right field. The extra-base hit allowed juniors Camryn Currie and Madison Martin to score.
  First Game
Top of Fourth
Lauren Barrett gave the visitors a 2-1 lead with a RBI double
Sara Sullivan followed with a run-scoring single
Briley Lawson hit a two-run home run to give the Bears a 5-1 lead
 
Bottom of Seventh
Piper Wagner collected a RBI groundout to begin the comeback
Sydney Pelaez connected on a two-run home run to trim the deficit to 5-4
Christina Zeppa hit a two-run double to right-center field with two out to bring home Camryn Currie and Madison Martin
 
Second Game
Bottom of First
Lea McFadden opened the game with a home run to left field
 
Bottom of Fifth
Jenna Gabrielli gave the Grizzlies a 3-1 lead with a two-run double
Holly Janco added a run-scoring single
Christina Zeppa capped the four-run frame with a RBI groundout
 
Bottom of Sixth
Jenna Gabrielli hit an infield single to score Logan Oller
Holly Janco drove home Brooke Parker from second base with a base hit to shortstop
 

• GGC collected 18 hits across the two games
• Sophomore Sydney Pelaez hit her team-leading second home run of the season in the opener
• GGC hitters drew eight walks across the doubleheader, including seven walks in the first contest
• Freshman Jenna Gabrielli drove in four runs on Friday

• GGC improved to 4-0 on the season; Truett-McConnell opened the season Friday
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 10 in the NAIA Top 25 preseason poll; Truett-McConnell stood No. 9 in the same national poll
• GGC leads the all-time series 14-8

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Chipola College (Florida) in a scrimmage on Sunday, February 14, at 1 p.m. from the Grizzly Softball Complex. The Grizzlies then are planning to travel to Montgomery, Alabama, for a neutral-site doubleheader against No. 7 University of Mobile (Alabama) on Tuesday, February 16, at 1 p.m.