Three big innings paved the way for the No. 10-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team to score a doubleheader sweep against Montreat College (North Carolina) Thursday afternoon at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies (11-1) won a tight opener 2-1 before earning a 10-2 victory in five innings to complete the sweep.

The team's 12 runs for the day were spread across three innings.

Junior center fielder Camryn Currie ignited GGC's offense in the opener. She lined a RBI single in the second inning before coming around to score the crucial second run on a RBI ground out from junior third baseman Brooke Parker later in the frame.

Montreat (2-12) got a run back in the third inning, but freshman pitcher Gracie Hogg kept the Cavaliers off the scoreboard for the rest of the game.

The visitors threatened in the sixth inning when the first two hitters reached base. However, sophomore catcher Sydney Pelaez picked off a runner at second base to end the threat.

Then, Hogg retired all three batters she faced in the seventh inning to pick up the victory and improve to 4-1 on the season.

In the second game, the Grizzlies struck first by scoring two runs in the first inning, with junior shortstop Piper Wagner connecting on a RBI double. Then, the hosts broke things open behind an eight-run fourth inning, all coming with one out. Junior pinch hitter Madison Martin lined a two-run single to center field to provide a 5-0 lead. Pelaez brought home a pair of runs with a single later in the inning.

Sophomore Alexa Good recorded nine strikeouts in the pitching circle to improve to 5-0 on the season.

Currie paced GGC's offense on Thursday by going 4-for-5 and driving in a pair of runs. Freshman designated player Josie Haulk scored twice and collected two hits in the second game.

Thursday's doubleheader ended GGC's 12-game home stand to begin the season.


  "We weren't really sharp offensively in the first game, but we made some great stops defensively to back up Gracie. We learned a lot about ourselves on Sunday (when team split a doubleheader to Coastal Georgia) and we were able to work on those things today," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  The Grizzlies used a head's up defensive play late in the opener to insure the victory. Trailing 2-1, Montreat got a leadoff single and a walk to have two baserunners in the sixth inning. However, GGC sophomore catcher Sydney Pelaez threw down to second base to pick off the potential game-tying run. Then, freshman pitcher Gracie Hogg retired the final five batters to seal the game.
  First Game
Bottom of Second
Camryn Currie hit a RBI single to center field to open the scoring
Brooke Parker added a RBI ground out to bring home Camryn Currie
 
Top of Third
Myrtle Lawson hit a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit in half, 2-1
 
Second Game
Bottom of First
Piper Wagner lined a run-scoring double to bring home Josie Haulk from first base
Camryn Currie followed with a RBI single to third base
 
Bottom of Fourth
Madison Martin lined a two-run single to extend GGC's lead to 5-0
Josie Haulk added a RBI single to bring home Holly Janco
Sydney Pelaez followed with a run-scoring single to bring home two runs on the play
 

• GGC tallied 10 of its 15 hits during the second game
• Junior Camryn Currie went 4-for-5 in the doubleheader
• The Grizzlies spread its 12 runs across three innings in the doubleheader

• GGC improves to 11-1 this season; Montreat falls to 2-12 in 2021
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 10 in the NAIA Top 25 preseason poll
• The team leads the all-time series 19-1, including 18 straight victories
• The doubleheader concluded 12-game home stand to open the spring season

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to travel to No. 21 Reinhardt University (Georgia) on Saturday, March 6, at Waleska, Georgia, starting at 1 p.m.