The Georgia Gwinnett College softball team registered a pair of 9-1 victories to open the LSU Alexandria Tournament on Friday. The Grizzlies opened by defeating the host Generals in five innings and then knocked off University of Houston-Victoria in six innings, both games in Alexandria, Louisiana.

The Grizzlies (4-0) got off to fast starts in each game, scoring three runs in the opening frame against LSU Alexandria and following with a two-run first inning against Houston-Victoria.

Four different players registered multiple hits in the opening victory. Junior Logan Oller cleared the bases with a double in the third inning to give GGC a 6-0 advantage. The outfielder went 2-for-2 in the contest. Senior Sydney Pelaez drove in a pair of runs from a double that was part of a 2-for-3 performance as the team's leadoff batter.

Senior Lea McFadden drove in five runs during the day, highlighted by three RBI against LSU Alexandria. She opened the scoring with a two-run double in the first inning before hitting a run-scoring double in the fourth inning.

Against Houston-Victoria, sophomore Lindzie Owen collected three hits and scored a trio of runs to lead the team's 12-hit offensive attack. Junior Josie Haulk gave GGC a 3-0 lead with an RBI double in the second inning.

Houston-Victoria (2-2), who defeated NAIA No. 2-ranked University of Mobile (Alabama) 3-0 earlier on Friday, got an unearned run in the fourth inning and threatened to score more by having runners on third and first bases. However, sophomore pitcher Annalise Wood came in relief to retire the next two batters and maintain GGC's two-run lead. The right hander struck out three hitters in 2.2 scoreless innings to improve to 2-0 on the season.

The team broke the game open behind a four-run fourth inning to grab a commanding 7-1 lead. Pelaez hit a run-scoring single to score sophomore Emerson Hall for the first tally of the frame. Back-to-back RBI singles from Owen and McFadden gave the Grizzlies a 6-1 advantage. Sophomore Kayla Good followed with a run-scoring single.

GGC's pitching staff has yet to allow an earned run this season. Sophomore Kailyn Berry went the distance inside the pitching circle against LSU Alexandria, scattering six hits and striking out three batters. Sophomore Mollie Peacock allowed just two hits across 3.1 innings in the start against Houston-Victoria.
  "It's nice to see the offense matching our pitchers' efforts this early in the season. We made the outings shorter by being aggressive on the bases and hitting their pitching hard," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  Houston-Victoria was attempting a comeback in the top of the fourth inning with an unearned run that trimmed a GGC lead to 3-1. However, sophomore pitcher Annalise Wood came out of the bullpen to retire the first two batters she faced and ending any threat of a rally. The Grizzlies scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to increase their lead even more.
  LSU Alexandria Game
Bottom of First
Lea McFadden opened the scoring with a two-run single
Angelica Gallegos followed with an RBI ground out
 
Bottom of Third
Logan Oller cleared the bases with a double to give the Grizzlies a 6-0 lead
 
Bottom of Fourth
Lea McFadden hit an RBI double to score Josie Haulk
Sydney Pelaez connected on a two-run double to right field
 
Houston-Victoria Game
Bottom of First
Angelica Gallegos brought home Lindzie Owen with an RBI double
Jane Hoover was hit by a pitch to give the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead
 
Bottom of Second
Josie Haulk added an RBI double to score Emerson Hall
 
Bottom of Fourth
Sydney Pelaez opened a four-run frame with a run-scoring single
Lindzie Owen added an RBI single to score Sydney Pelaez
Kayla Good hit a run-scoring single to give GGC a 7-1 lead
 
Bottom of Sixth
Lea McFadden hit a run-scoring single to bring home Lindzie Owen for the team's ninth run of the game
 

• The Grizzlies collected 22 hits during Friday's two games, led by 12 hits against Houston-Victoria
• Sophomore Lindzie Owen went 3-for-3 and scored three runs against Houston-Victoria
• Sophomore Annalise Wood picked up her second win of the season, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings in relief
• Senior Lea McFadden drove in five runs across the two games

• GGC improves to 4-0 on the season; LSU Alexandria is 3-5 in 2022; Houston-Victoria is 2-2 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 14 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll
• GGC has won five of the six meetings all-time against LSU Alexandria; GGC has a 4-2 series lead against Houston-Victoria

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host No. 20 Campbellsville University (Kentucky) on Friday, February 17, from the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at 2 p.m.