Senior shortstop Piper Wagner became the sixth different Grizzly to record a walk-off base hit during the 2022 campaign as the No. 11-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team defeated No. 6 Columbia College (Missouri) 3-2 during Saturday's action at the Gulf Coast Invitational in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

The Grizzlies (13-10) fell 2-0 to No. 13 Central Methodist University (Missouri) later in the day to complete the tournament with a 2-2 record.

GGC never trailed in the first contest of the day. Junior Sydney Pelaez scored in the bottom of the first inning when a fielding error by Columbia's shortstop opened the opportunity for an unearned run.

That 1-0 lead was short-lived as Columbia tied the contest in the top of the second inning.

Junior Lea McFadden gave GGC a 2-1 lead in the fifth frame with a single that brought home Wagner from second base. But once again the Cougars tied the game in the next half inning.

Junior starting pitcher Alexa Good kept Columbia (6-7) off the scoreboard the rest of the way, allowing the Grizzlies to record their sixth walk-off victory of the season. Pelaez started the rally after getting hit by a pitch. An infield single from sophomore Kloey Goins advanced Pelaez to second base. That set things up for Wagner, a 2021 NAIA second All-America team member, who smashed an RBI double to center field to score Pelaez for the game-winning run.

Good struck out seven batters to pick up her 10th victory of the season.

In the second game, Central Methodist (8-1) took advantage of two GGC errors in the top of the second inning to score a pair of runs. That's all the team needed as the Grizzlies were limited to just two hits.
 
GGC's winning formula featured another walk-off victory as junior Sydney Pelaez opened the bottom seventh inning against Columbia by being hit by a pitch. Sophomore Kloey Goins added an infield single to advance Pelaez into scoring position. That's when 2021 All-American shortstop Piper Wagner delivered the heroics – this time with a double to center field that scored Pelaez with the winning tally. Six of GGC's 13 wins have come in walk-off fashion with each feat being done by a different player.
 
Columbia Game
Bottom of First
Lea McFadden reached first on a Columbia fielding error that allowed Sydney Pelaez to score
 
Bottom of Fifth
Lea McFadden hit an RBI single up the middle to score Piper Wagner and give the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead
 
Bottom of Seventh
Piper Wagner brought GGC's dramatic victory with a double to center field that scored Sydney Pelaez for the game-winning run – the team's sixth walk-off victory of the season
 
Central Methodist Game
Top of Second
A pair fielding errors allowed Central Methodist to score two runs – the only scoring in the contest
 

• The Grizzlies outhit Columbia by an 11-7 margin
• Junior Alexa Good recorded 10 strikeouts among her two pitching appearances on Saturday, led by seven punchouts in the starting assignment against Columbia
• Senior Piper Wagner went 3-for-7 at the plate and became the sixth Grizzly this season to record a walk-off base hit

• GGC stands 13-10 on the season; Columbia is 6-7 this spring; Central Methodist has an 8-1 record in 2022
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 11 in the 2022 NAIA Top 25 preseason poll; Columbia stood No. 6 in the same poll; Central Methodist was No. 13 in the preseason poll
• GGC has a 5-4 record in neutral site games this season

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play a doubleheader against Grace College (Indiana) on Tuesday, March 8, from the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at 1 p.m.