A walk-off single by senior Brooke Parker helped the No. 11-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team defeat No. 23 Lindsey Wilson College (Kentucky) 8-7 to complete Friday's thrilling action in the Grizzly Open at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies opened the 2022 season by splitting a pair of games on the first day of the Grizzly Open after suffering a 3-1 loss to Thomas University (Georgia) in the event's opener. All four teams that played on the GGC diamond on Friday each went 1-1 for the day.

Trailing 7-6 in the seventh inning, the hosts mounted a rally after benefiting from a defensive miscue and then coming up with timely hitting. Sophomore Kloey Goins reached base following a fielding error, with two outs, by Lindsey Wilson's second baseman. That allowed freshman Emerson Hall to hustle home from second base for the game-tying run. Parker then followed with a line drive base hit to center field for the dramatic 8-7 victory.

The two teams combined for 13 hits to score 12 runs across the first two innings. GGC freshman Angelica Gallegos connected on her first collegiate home run, a two-run blast over the left field fence that was part of a three-run opening inning.

Lindsey Wilson (1-1) would take a 6-3 lead in the top of the second inning after a bases-clearing double from Kylie Brown. The lead would be short lived as senior Piper Wagner drilled a two-run homer for GGC to square the contest at 6-6.

The Blue Raiders' 7-6 lead came following a GGC defensive miscue in the top of the sixth inning. Mikayla Marquez hit a two-out RBI base hit to right field to drive in the go-ahead run.

Then came the Grizzlies' rally in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Wagner went 3-for-3 and scored three runs to pace GGC's 11-hit offensive attack against Lindsey Wilson. Junior Lea McFadden collected two hits and drew a walk to lead off the seventh inning. Junior Sydney Pelaez added two hits in the victory.

In Friday's first game, Thomas (1-1) scored twice following GGC wild pitches in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 deadlock. The Nighthawks tied the game at 1-1 in the third inning when Michaela Farr scored from third base as Pelaez threw out an opposing baserunner at second base.

Parker gave the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning with a double to right field that scored Pelaez from second base.


 
"I liked seeing that we made the necessary adjustments to come back in the second game. We're a much better hitting ballclub than what we showed in the first game (3-1 loss to Thomas). We showed that in the second game by stringing some nice hits together," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Trailing 7-6 and one strike away a loss, the Grizzlies mounted a comeback against the nationally ranked Blue Raiders in the second game of the day. Sophomore Kloey Goins hit a ground ball to second base, but Lindsey Wilson's Makea-Al Kaluau misplayed the ball. That's all Emerson Hall needed to score from second base to tie the contest at 7-7 in the bottom of the seventh inning. Senior Brooke Parker followed with a walk-off base hit to center field for the victory and a split of the Grizzly Open's opening day.
 
Thomas Game
Bottom of Second
Brooke Parker lined an RBI double to right field to score Sydney Pelaez, giving the Grizzlies an early 1-0 lead
 
Top of Third
Michaela Farr tied the game, 1-1, following a fielder's choice as Makana Pember was caught stealing
 
Top of Sixth
Two wild pitches by GGC brought in two runs to break the 1-1 deadlock
 
Lindsey Wilson Game
Bottom of First
Angelica Gallegos connected on a two-run home run over the left field fence to give the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead
Sydney Pelaez added a run-scoring single to cap a three-run inning
 
Top of Second
Lindsey Wilson's Kylie Brown cleared the bases with a double to center field during a five-run inning
 
Bottom of Second
Piper Wagner tied the game, 6-6, with a two-run home run to left field for GGC
 
Bottom of Seventh
Kloey Goins reached on a fielding error to score Emerson Hall for a tying run, making it 7-7
Brooke Parker lined a single to center field for the walk-off base hit to bring home Piper Wagner for the winning run
 

• The Grizzlies collected 11 hits in the Lindsey Wilson victory
• Senior Piper Wagner went 3-for-3 and scored three runs in Friday's second contest
• Four players recorded multiple-hit performances

• GGC opened the 2022 season on Friday; Thomas and Lindsey Wilson also started their 2022 campaigns
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 11 in the 2022 NAIA Top 25 preseason poll; Lindsey Wilson stood No. 23 in the same poll
• Thomas leads the series with GGC series 9-8, while the Grizzlies took the series lead over Lindsey Wilson 4-3
• GGC went 24-6 at the Grizzly Softball Complex in 2021

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to continue the Grizzly Open on Saturday, February 12, by once again facing Thomas University (Georgia) at 10 a.m. and Lindsey Wilson College (Kentucky) at 4:30 p.m. from the Grizzly Softball Complex.