On a day that the No. 14-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team honored its lone senior, it was a freshman that played a key role in splitting a doubleheader against No. 17 University of the Cumberlands (Kentucky) on Saturday afternoon at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies (22-12) won the second game 6-1 after losing the opener 7-1.

Prior to the games the program honored senior Piper Wagner, a five-year contributor and three-time All-American whose name is scattered through GGC's career hitting and pitching record books. She had two hits, brought home two runs, and scored a run in her Senior Day performance.

However, it was freshman Kailyn Berry who stood tall in the pitching circle for the second game. The right hander scattered five hits to pick up the complete-game victory. She now has four wins this season.

In that second encounter of the day, the Grizzlies took advantage of two errors by the Patriots to score three unearned runs in the first inning. Junior Brooke Parker brought home the second run of the inning frame with an RBI single through the right side. A run-scoring ground out from sophomore Logan Oller gave the hosts a 3-0 lead.

One inning later, the team pushed across three more runs. Junior Lea McFadden collected a run-scoring single up the middle to bring home Wagner for a 6-0 advantage.

Cumberlands' Bryant hit a solo home run in the fourth inning for the team's lone score.

The Grizzlies tallied eight hits in the second contest, led by freshman Jane Hoover going 2-for-3. McFadden drove in two runs, while sophomore Kloey Goins scored two runs.

In the opener, Cumberlands (19-9) jumped out to a 3-0 lead through three innings, scoring a pair of unearned runs in the top of the third inning. Wagner brought the Grizzlies within two runs, 3-1, with an RBI double down the left field line in the fifth inning.

However, the Patriots responded with four runs in the top of the sixth frame to secure the victory.


  "I'm happy to see Kailyn (Berry) step up. Cumberlands is a really good hitting team, as they proved that in the first game. Kailyn did a good job of commanding her pitches. We're capable of beating all of the ranked teams that we've played. I would like to see us play a top-five team with a clean sheet and see who comes out on top," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  The Grizzlies jumped out quickly on the No. 17-ranked Patriots by taking advantage of two errors to score three unearned runs in the opening inning of the second game. The 3-0 lead was the first time this season that GGC had led in the three meetings with Cumberlands this season. The hosts added three more runs in the second inning to knock out starting pitcher Morgan Radford and split Saturday's doubleheader.
  First Game
Top of First
Emily Bryant opened the scoring with an RBI single
 
Top of Third
Emily Bryant reached on a fielding error to allow Emily Jasper to score
Katie Cheeseman added an RBI single to give the Patriots a 3-0 lead
 
Bottom of Fifth
Piper Wagner lined an RBI double down the left field line to bring the Grizzlies within 3-1
 
Top of Sixth
Maddie Sickau hit a two-run double during a four-run inning for Cumberlands
 
Second Game
Bottom of First
Lea McFadden opened the scoring after reaching following a defensive error to bring home Sydney Pelaez
Brooke Parker added an RBI single through the right side
Logan Oller hit an RBI ground out to cap the team's three-run inning
 
Bottom of Second
Piper Wagner hit an RBI single up the middle to bring home Angelica Gallegos
Lea McFadden gave the Grizzlies a 6-0 lead with a run-scoring single
 
Top of Fourth
Emily Bryant hit a solo home run over the left field fence for the Patriots' lone score
 

• The Grizzlies registered eight hits in the second game
• Freshman Kailyn Berry tossed her fifth complete game of the season
• Senior Piper Wagner drove in single runs during the Senior Day doubleheader

• GGC stands 22-12 on the season; Cumberlands is 19-10 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 14 in the first 2022 NAIA Top 25 poll of the regular season; Cumberlands stood No. 17 in the same poll
• The team has won seven of the 10 meetings with the Patriots
• GGC has won nine of its last 11 games

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to conclude the 13-game home stand against Truett-McConnell University (Georgia) on Sunday, March 20, from the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at 5 p.m.