The nationally ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball picked up a pair of impressive victories Sunday afternoon, defeating a quality University of Rio Grande (Ohio) team 9-1 and 4-3 to conclude the Grizzly Classic from the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies (19-11), ranked No. 14 in the first NAIA Top 25 poll of the regular season, also recorded their seventh walk-off victory of the season when junior Brooke Parker hit a sacrifice fly in the nightcap.

Junior pitcher Alexa Good picked up a pair of victories, striking out eight batters in a complete-game victory in the opener. The right hander then struck out three RedStorm hitters across two hitless innings in relief. She has a 14-4 record inside the pitching circle this spring.

In the day's opener, GGC scored three runs in the first inning before pushing six runs across during the fourth inning. Sophomore Kloey Goins broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run single in the opening frame.

Later, freshman Angelica Gallegos delivered a two-run double to bring home sophomore Kendall Parks and freshman Jane Hoover. A fielding error allowed Gallegos to score to extend GGC's lead to 7-1. Sophomore Lani Trent capped the big inning with an RBI single.

The Grizzlies scored their nine runs on nine hits in the opener.

In the second game, senior Piper Wagner led off the Grizzlies' offensive performance with her seventh home run of the season to square the contest at 1-1. Wagner's seven home runs are the most she has recorded in a season so far during her career.

A sacrifice fly by Goins in the third inning scored junior Lea McFadden to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage. Wagner added a run-scoring single to bring home Hoover an inning later.

However, Rio Grande (12-6) rallied to tie the game by pushing a run across in the fifth and sixth innings. The tying run came off a GGC throwing error.

That set up the Grizzlies' latest walk-off heroics. Freshman Kayla Good opened the seventh inning by reaching on a fielding error. McFadden followed with a single to move the game-winning run into scoring position. A sacrifice bunt from Trent advanced Kayla Good to third base. An intentional walk to Goins loaded the bases with one out. That's when Parker lined a 2-2 pitch to right field for a sacrifice fly that allowed Kayla Good to easily score the winning run.

Trent went 3-for-5 at the plate while Wagner tallied three hits and scored three runs across the doubleheader sweep. Kayla Good also scored three times.

GGC won two of three games in the weekend series against Rio Grande, a team that received votes in the recent Top 25 poll. 


 
"Coming away with two wins (Sunday) against a quality team shows that we're striving in the right direction. This team's demeanor is growing and maturing. I believe in them. They understand so well what needs to be done in the late-game situations," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
The Grizzlies capped off an impressive Sunday doubleheader sweep by producing their seventh walk-off victory of the season. Freshman Kayla Good led off the seventh inning by reaching after a Rio Grande fielding error. A base hit from junior Lea McFadden moved the game-winning run into scoring position. The Grizzlies then executed a sacrifice bunt to move both runners up a base before sophomore Kloey Goins was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Junior Brooke Parker hit a 2-ball, 2-strike pitch deep enough to right field for a sacrifice fly that scored Kayla Good for the 4-3 victory.
 
First Game
Bottom of First
Lea McFadden tied the game, 1-1, with an RBI single
Kloey Goins followed with a two-run single to center field to give the Grizzlies a 3-1 lead
 
Bottom of Third
Angelica Gallegos hit a two-run double
Lani Trent added an RBI single to cap the team's six-run inning
 
Second Game
Bottom of First
Piper Wagner led off the game with a home run to right field to tie the game
 
Bottom of Third
Kloey Goins hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Lea McFadden
 
Bottom of Fourth
Piper Wagner gave the Grizzlies a 3-1 lead with a run-scoring single
 
Bottom of Seventh
Brooke Parker hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Kayla Good for the game-winning run
 

• The Grizzlies had 17 hits across Sunday's doubleheader, led by nine hits in the opener
• Junior Alexa Good had 11 strikeouts in two pitching appearances
• Junior Brooke Parker hit her second walk-off of the season and GGC's seventh of 2022

• GGC improves to 19-11 on the season; Rio Grande drops to 12-6 in 2022
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 14 in the first 2022 NAIA Top 25 poll of the regular season; Rio Grande received votes in the same poll
• The team went 3-1 during the weekend's Grizzly Classic
• GGC is 14-7 at the Grizzly Softball Complex this season

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Talladega College (Alabama) on Tuesday, March 15, from the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at 2 p.m.