The No. 11-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team scored a season-high 12 runs on 11 hits in the second inning to defeat Grace College (Indiana) 14-0 on Tuesday in a rain-shortened afternoon at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies (14-10) were also rounding the bases in the nightcap, enjoying an 8-0 advantage in the top of the third when rain suspended play. Seven of its eight runs came in the second inning in that contest as well. The two teams will attempt to resume the suspended contest on Wednesday, March 9, at 3 p.m. before playing a third game in the midweek series.

All nine starting players registered a hit and six had at least two base hits in the first-game victory. Senior Piper Wagner led the way by going 3-for-3, with three RBI, and scoring two runs. Junior Sydney Pelaez went 2-for-2 and scored three times as the team's leadoff batter in the lineup.

Freshmen Jane Hoover and Angelica Gallegos each recorded two hits while sophomore Josie Haulk also went 2-for-2 and scored a pair of runs.

Junior Brooke Parker rounded out the team's multiple-hit performers by collecting two hits in three plate appearances.

Freshman Kailyn Berry scattered three hits and struck out six batters in the shutout to improve her record to 3-4 inside the pitching circle.

In the second game, the Grizzlies took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI double from junior Lea McFadden.

Two wild pitches opened the gates for the seven-run second inning – on only four hits. McFadden's single to right field scored freshman Kayla Good and Pelaez to give the Grizzlies a 6-0 lead. Gallegos brought home a pair of runs with a double to right field.

Junior Alexa Good struck out the side in the first inning and added two more strikeouts in the second frame before rain halted play.

Tuesday's action began an 11-game home stand at the Grizzly Softball Complex.
 
The second inning led the way for the nationally ranked Grizzlies in both games, amounting for 12 of the 14 runs scored in Tuesday's opener. Sixteen different players stepped up to the plate in the inning that had 11 hits. Sophomore Josie Haulk recorded a pair of hits while sophomore Kloey Goins and senior Piper Wagner each drove in two runs with base hits in consecutive at bats.
 
First Game
Bottom of First
Lea McFadden opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly to right field
Brooke Parker followed with an RBI single to bring home Piper Wagner
 
Bottom of Second
Piper Wagner gave the Grizzlies a 4-0 lead with a sacrifice fly
Brooke Parker added a sacrifice fly to bring home the third run of the inning
Logan Oller started the two-out string of base hits with a run-scoring single to third base
Jane Hoover hit an RBI single to left field
Josie Haulk followed with a run-scoring single to give GGC a 9-0 lead
Kloey Goins lined a two-run down to left-center field
Piper Wagner brought home a pair of runs with a single down the left field line
Emerson Hall capped GGC's 12-run inning with a run-scoring double to right field
 
Second Game
Bottom of First
Lea McFadden hit an RBI double down the left field line to score Kayla Good
 
Bottom of Second
Wild pitches allowed Angelica Gallegos and Logan Oller to score
Kayla Good hit a fielder's choice to bring home Jane Hoover
Lea McFadden gave the Grizzlies a 6-0 lead with a two-run single
Angelica Gallegos hit a two-run double to score a pair of unearned runs
 

• The Grizzlies collected 17 hits in Tuesday's first contest, 11 coming in the decisive 12-run second inning
• Junior Lea McFadden went 3-for-3 and drove in five runs
• Ten different Grizzlies recorded a hit in the opener, including six multiple-hit performances
• Freshman Kailyn Berry tossed the first shutout of her collegiate career

• GGC stands 14-10 on the season; Grace is 3-4 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 11 in the 2022 NAIA Top 25 preseason poll
• GGC began an 11-game home stand
• Tuesday's game marked the first meeting between the two colleges

The two teams will attempt to resume Tuesday's suspended contest on Wednesday, March 9, from the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at 3 p.m. GGC leads Grace 8-0 in the top of the third inning. Then, the teams will return to the diamond for a regular seven-inning game.