A showdown between Georgia Gwinnett College and College of Coastal Georgia lived up to its heritage as the nationally ranked NAIA softball teams split a doubleheader Wednesday in Brunswick, Georgia.

Back-to-back RBI singles from sophomore Logan Oller and junior Brooke Parker in the ninth inning lifted No. 14 GGC (29-15) to a 9-7 win against No. 10 Coastal Georgia (32-6) in the first game before the hosts scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to capture the second game 6-2.  

Both teams have now split the last five doubleheaders in the series.

The Grizzlies grabbed a 4-0 lead in the third inning of the first game when senior Piper Wagner and junior Lea McFadden hit back-to-back home runs. Wagner's two-run homer broke the program record with 22 career home runs, surpassing the record previously held by Sydney Willhite.

Coastal Georgia chipped away at the deficit by scoring a run in the third inning and got within 4-2 after a home run from Sarah Thinger. The hosts eventually tied the game 4-4 with a two-run single by Kayla Rowell with two outs in the seventh inning to force extra innings.

Both teams added one run in the eighth inning before the crucial hits from Oller and Parker pulled GGC on top 7-5. An infield single by Oller scored McFadden for the eventual game-winning run. Parker then lined a base hit to right field to bring home a key insurance run.

Coastal Georgia placed runners on the third and first bases in the bottom of the ninth inning. However, junior relief pitcher Alexa Good got two pop ups to second base to end the threat and secure the extra-inning victory.

The Grizzlies are now 4-1 this season in extra innings and won the opener of road doubleheaders this week after defeating USC Beaufort (South Carolina) 13-10 on Tuesday.

In the second game, GGC pulled even with Coastal Georgia at 2-2 in the fifth inning on a RBI single from McFadden. Junior Sydney Pelaez led off the game with a home run. But the hosts pulled away in the sixth frame when Elizabeth McGovern lined a go-ahead run-scoring double. Thinger added an RBI single up the middle for the team's fourth run of the game.

McFadden paced GGC's offensive attack for the day, going 4-for-9 and collecting two hits in each game. Oller went 4-for-5 in the first contest while Parker had a pair of multiple-hit performances.
 
Turning Point
The Grizzlies picked up another extra-inning victory by scoring two runs in the ninth inning. Sophomore Logan Oller laid down a perfect bunt for a run-scoring single to give the visitors a 6-5 lead. Junior Brooke Parker followed with an RBI single to bring home freshman Kayla Good for a key insurance run. Junior relief pitcher Alexa Good then kept the Mariners off the scoreboard to secure the win in the day's opening game.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Top of Third
Piper Wagner connected on a two-run home run to set the program career record with her 22nd round tripper
Lea McFadden made it back-to-back home runs to stretch GGC's lead to 4-0
 
Bottom of Fifth
Sarah Thinger led off the frame with a home run to right field to cut the Grizzlies' lead to 4-2
 
Bottom of Seventh
Kayla Rowell tied the game, 4-4, with a two-run single to left field with two outs
 
Top of Eighth
Angelica Gallegos hit a run-scoring single to score Nikki Lajara
 
Bottom of Eighth
MacKenzie Kagee squared the game with an RBI double
 
Top of Ninth
Logan Oller hit an infield single to give the Grizzlies a 6-5 advantage
Brooke Parker followed with a run-scoring single to score Kayla Good
 
Second Game
Top of First
Sydney Pelaez led off the game with a home run to center field
 
Bottom of First
Cevana Wood hit an RBI single to tie the contest
Cevana Wood later scored following a wild pitch
 
Top of Fifth
Lea McFadden tied the game at 2-2 with a run-scoring single to bring home Sydney Pelaez
 
Bottom of Sixth
Elizabeth McGovern gave the Mariners a 3-2 lead with an RBI double
Sarah Thinger added a run-scoring single
McCall Maret capped a four-run inning with an RBI single
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies recorded 24 hits across the doubleheader, highlighted by 17 hits in the opener
• Senior Piper Wagner broke the program career record for home runs (22) with a two-run round tripper in the first game
• GGC is 4-1 in extra-inning games this season

News & Notes

• GGC stands 29-15 on the season; Coastal Georgia is 32-6 in 2022
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 14 in the latest 2022 NAIA Top 25 poll; Coastal Georgia stood No. 10 in the same poll
• Since 2020 GGC and Coastal Georgia have split the five doubleheaders played in the series

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to travel to Truett-McConnell University (Georgia) on Thursday, April 21, in Cleveland, Georgia, starting at 5 p.m.