The No. 6-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team earned a pair of impressive victories by 2-0 and 5-4 scores against No. 11 University of Mobile (Alabama) Monday afternoon from Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama.

The Grizzlies (17-7) got a pair of run-scoring singles from freshman Kloey Goins and junior Holly Janco in the fifth inning to produce the scoring in the opening game.

Sophomore Alexa Good was sharp in the pitching circle, going the distance in both games and striking out seven batters to earn victories that improved her record to 11-2 for the season. She retired 18 batters in a row in the opener after allowing a leadoff triple.

In the second game, junior Madison Martin hit a two-run home run over the center field fence in the second inning to give GGC a 3-1 lead. Junior Piper Wagner added a two-run homer in the sixth inning that proved to be important to the team's winning cause.

Mobile (11-13) got within a run, 5-4, following a three-run home run by Brianna Crim with two outs in the seventh inning. However, Good struck out Hailee Powell to complete the sweep.

The Grizzlies registered seven hits in both games and now have won five straight games. Sophomore Sydney Pelaez paced the offensive attack by going 4-for-5 at the plate across the doubleheader.
 
Coach's Corner
"There were a lot of different contributors for us in these two games. We got hits from key players and timely contributions from other players like Madison (Martin) and Kloey (Goins). Also, our defense was really impressive behind Alexa (Good) today. We thought today was a good opportunity for Alexa to pitch both games with our extended break in schedule coming up," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Turning Point
Alexa Good kept throwing up zeros on the scoreboard in the opener and the Grizzlies' offense managed two key runs in the fifth inning. A RBI single from freshman Kloey Goins scored junior Ruth Jones. Later, Goins came home on a base hit from junior Holly Janco to give GGC a 2-0 lead – the victory margin.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Bottom of Fifth
Kloey Goins gave the Grizzlies the lead with a RBI single
Holly Janco hit a RBI single to bring home Kloey Goins for a 2-0 lead
 
Second Game
Bottom of First
Sydney Pelaez tied the game, 1-1, with a run-scoring single
 
Bottom of Second
Madison Martin connected on a two-run home run
 
Bottom of Sixth
Piper Wagner extended GGC's lead to 5-1 with a two-run homer
 
Top of Seventh
Brianna Crim hit a three-run home run for Mobile to trim the deficit to 5-4
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies collected seven hits in both games
• Sophomore pitcher Alexa Good recorded 14 strikeouts in tossing two complete games within the doubleheader
• Junior Sydney Pelaez went 4-for-5 at the plate in the two victories

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 17-7 on the season; Mobile drops to 11-13 in 2021 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 6 in the first NAIA Top 25 poll; Mobile stood No. 11 in the same poll
• The games were played at a neutral site at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama
• GGC leads the all-time history against the Rams by a 6-4 margin

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host NCAA Division III Emory University (Georgia) on Saturday, March 27, from the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at 2 p.m.