All the numbers were in favor of the nationally ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team in sweeping a midweek doubleheader from Talladega College (Alabama) on Tuesday afternoon at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies (21-11) outscored the visitors 19-2, outhit them 20-7 and only committed one defensive error in winning games 6-1 and 13-1. The second game's double-digit scoring output was the seventh time that the team has scored more than 10 runs in a game.

And the victory was the eighth in GGC's last nine games.

Junior Sydney Pelaez tallied two hits and scored three runs in the opener. She opened a three-run fifth inning with her third home run of the season. Senior Piper Wagner legged out two doubles and drove in three runs.

The hosts scored one run in each of the first three innings in building a 3-0 lead. Talladega (7-7) scored in the top of the fourth inning to get within two runs. That's when the Grizzlies used a big fifth inning to pull away for the victory.

Pelaez and Wagner combined for four of GGC's seven hits in the contest.

Junior starting pitcher Alexa Good improved to 15-4 inside the circle by recording 11 strikeouts in the complete-game performance.

In the nightcap, the Grizzlies brought home seven runs in the second inning and five more tallies in the third inning.

Freshman Jane Hoover started the big second frame with her first collegiate home run. Wagner cleared the bases with a double to give the hosts a 7-0 advantage. An RBI single from junior Brooke Parker capped GGC's seven-run second inning.

An inning later, sophomore Josie Haulk stretched the lead to 9-0 with a run-scoring double. Then, junior Lea McFadden brought home a pair of runs with a single up the middle to bring home the team's 13th run of the game.

Five different players recorded two hits in the victory. Pelaez collected two hits and scored two runs. McFadden drove in three runs and went 2-for-3 at the plate while Haulk, Hoover and Parker each had two hits.

Freshman pitcher Mollie Peacock scattered two hits and had four strikeouts in the complete-game performance. She improved to 3-2 on the season.


  "I'm proud of how hard the girls worked today. It's rewarding to see a young player (Jane Hoover) benefitting from going through the process and all her hard work. She is an amazing young player," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  The Grizzlies' players made their third plate appearances count in the opener by scoring three runs in the fifth inning. Junior Sydney Pelaez hit a home run over the right field fence before RBI base hits from senior Piper Wagner and junior Lea McFadden helped the team pull away. That big inning gave the Grizzlies a 6-1 advantage.
  First Game
Bottom of First
Piper Wagner opened the scoring with an RBI double
 
Bottom of Second
Jane Hoover hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Kloey Goins
 
Bottom of Third
Piper Wagner added a sacrifice fly to give the Grizzlies a 3-0 lead
 
Top of Fifth
Sydney Pelaez hit a home run to right field
Piper Wagner collected a run-scoring double
Lea McFadden brought home Piper Wagner with an RBI single
 
Second Game
Bottom of Second
Jane Hoover connected on a two-run home run to left field
Piper Wagner cleared the bases with an RBI double
Brooke Parker capped the seven-run second inning
 
Bottom of Third
Josie Haulk opened a five-run frame with a run-scoring double
Lea McFadden drove in a pair of runs with a single
 

• The Grizzlies registered 13 hits in Tuesday's second game
• GGC had seven doubles across the doubleheader sweep
• Junior Sydney Pelaez went 4-for-5 and scored five runs
• The team outhit Talladega by a 20-7 margin

• GGC improves to 21-11 in 2022; Talladega falls to 7-7 on the season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 14 in the first 2022 NAIA Top 25 poll of the regular season
• The team has won 25 of the 26 meetings in the series history with Talladega
• GGC has won eight of its last nine games

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host No. 17 University of the Cumberlands (Kentucky) for Senior Day on Friday, March 18, from the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at 3 p.m.