Georgia Gwinnett College junior Alexa Good put herself in the school's record book and a special place in history by tossing the program's first perfect game in the Grizzlies' 1-0 victory against Cottey College (Missouri) to capture the 2022 Continental Athletic Conference Softball Championship title Saturday afternoon at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The top-seeded Grizzlies (35-18) won all three games in the inaugural CAC championship tournament. It is the program's fifth straight conference tournament championship and sixth overall title. They will now play in the Opening Round of the NAIA National Championship tournament, being contested May 16-18 in Lawrenceville.

GGC made an early run stand up as the margin of victory, with freshman Angelica Gallegos hitting a sacrifice fly to bring home freshman Lindzie Owen in the top of the first inning.

Good was brilliant inside the pitching circle, with the right hander striking out six batters while not allowing a Cottey baserunner. She didn't allow a hit or walk and didn't hit an opposing batter – requisites of a perfect game.

"I trusted my defense (inducing 10 ground outs and five flyouts among her 21 batters faced) and knew that if they could play behind me that we would score enough runs offensively," said Good, who was named the 2022 CAC Softball Championship's Most Outstanding Player. She was the winning pitcher in all three tournament victories.

She added, "I was able to keep them off balance with my changeup. Sydney (Pelaez) and I were on the same page (pitcher-catcher battery) throughout this tournament. Cottey is a very good offensive team and by hitting my spots, I was able to have success."

The Grizzlies had chances to break the game open, but Cottey (30-15) pitcher Brooke Vicory made quality pitches to keep the Comets within a run. GGC loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fifth inning after an intentional walk to senior Piper Wagner. However, a hard hit ball from junior Lea McFadden was caught in left field to end the threat.

GGC tallied nine hits in the contest with Wagner going 2-for-2 at the plate. Junior Sydney Pelaez and Owen also collected two hits in the victory. Gallegos, McFadden, Pelaez, and Wagner were each named to the all-tournament team for their strong play in the postseason event.
  "It has been incredible to see this team come together this week, while teammates helping teammates to win this championship. Alexa (Good) is capable of this kind of performance, but it takes everyone (offensively and defensively) to win a championship and have a perfect game. It is an incredible moment and achievement for Alexa," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.

 

SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP HIGHLIGHTS: @GGCAthletics won the inaugural 2022 CAC Softball Championship. Alexa Good tossed a perfect game and was the winning pitching in all three games for the Grizzlies. Video courtesy of the Grizzly Digital Network.#CAC_Softball pic.twitter.com/vKoYhWTvT4

— Continental Athletics (@CAC_SportsNAIA) May 7, 2022

  Junior pitcher Alexa Good had a dominant pitching performance to make a 1-0 first-inning lead stand up for the championship victory margin. The right hander completed the first perfect game in program history by retiring the top three hitters in Cottey's lineup in the seventh inning – two of them by strike outs. Good closed out by getting Karina Ramirez to ground out to shortstop before getting called third strikes against Melina Bueno and Maya De Sota.
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Angelica Gallegos hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Lindzie Owen for the 1-0 lead
 

• The Grizzlies recorded nine hits in the contest
• Junior Alexa Good struck out six batters during her perfect game
• Freshman Lindzie Owen went 2-for-4 and scored the lone run of the contest
• Three Grizzlies collected two hits apiece in the championship game

• GGC improves to 35-18 on the season; Cottey falls to 30-15 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 12 in the latest 2022 NAIA Top 25 poll; Cottey received votes in the same poll
• GGC was the top seed in the 2022 Continental Athletic Conference Softball Championship tournament; Cottey was the No. 2 seed
• GGC defeated Cottey in two one-run games during the tournament, winning 7-6 in extra innings on Friday, May 6, before Saturday's 1-0 victory

Georgia Gwinnett College will be hosting the Lawrenceville Bracket of the 2022 NAIA Opening Round from May 16-18 at the Grizzly Softball Complex. The tournament field will be announced on Tuesday, May 10, at 5 p.m.