Georgia Gwinnett College and Campbellsville University (Kentucky) each had late-inning heroics in Friday's matchup of nationally ranked NAIA softball programs at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

And the No. 14-ranked Grizzlies (5-0) had the final answer in a dramatic 8-7 victory that opened a busy weekend on the diamond.

A slow-rolling walk-off single to third base by senior Sydney Pelaez scored sophomore Angelica Gallegos to cap a dramatic three-run seventh inning that turned a 7-5 deficit into the victory.

Gallegos plated the first run of the frame with a run-scoring single to shortstop. Then, junior Logan Oller followed with an RBI single to right-center field that tied the game at 7-7. Freshman pinch hitter Summer Hickson was hit by a pitch with one out to load the bases for Pelaez's clutch hit.

Campbellsville (2-1) responded from an early 4-0 deficit to twice take the lead. The Tigers pushed across a pair of unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning to take the 7-5 advantage after Ashby Murt's two-run triple with two outs.

Earlier, the visitors took a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning on a run-scoring single from Riley Hurst. That edge was earned through a three-run fifth inning and two runs bring scored in the sixth and seventh frames.

GGC responded with an RBI ground out from junior Josie Haulk in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the contest at 5-5.

The Grizzlies scored four times in the opening inning. Junior Kloey Goins cleared the bases with a triple to right field. She later scored on an RBI single from Gallegos. Goins went 3-for-4 at the plate, with two runs scored, and drove in three runs to lead GGC's 11-hit offensive attack.

Senior Alexa Good had 10 strikeouts during a complete-game performance that earned her second victory of the season.

Sophomore Lindzie Owen, Gallegos and Pelaez each collected two hits in the showdown between ranked opponents.


  "We overcame a lot of adversity today. If we handle this pressure, we can handle the pressure of a national championship game. That's precisely what today's game felt like and that's the type of never-say-die resilience that we're trying to build with this team. It takes a team effort to win games like this," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  The No. 14-ranked Grizzlies fought to the very end in a contest against No. 20 Campbellsville, which scored two unearned runs to take a 7-5 lead in the top of the seventh inning. The hosts then strung together four straight hits with one out in the bottom half of the frame to tie the game. An RBI single by junior Logan Oller brought home the seventh run before a bases-loaded soft ground ball to third base off the bat of senior Sydney Pelaez brought home sophomore Angelica Gallegos with the game-winning run.
  Bottom of First
Kloey Goins cleared the bases with a triple to right field that opened the scoring
Angelica Gallegos collected an RBI single to score Kloey Goins and give GGC an early 4-0 lead
 
Top of Fifth
Payton Blades lined a double to score a pair of runs and trim the deficit to 4-3
 
Top of Sixth
Caroline Pitcock tied the game, 4-4, with a run-scoring single up the middle
Riley Hurst added an RBI single to give the Tigers their first lead, 5-4
 
Bottom of Sixth
Josie Haulk hit an RBI ground out to second base that scored Sydney Pelaez to tie the game, 5-5
 
Top of Seventh
Ashby Murt hit a two-run triple to right field for a 7-5 Tigers' advantage
 
Bottom of Seventh
Logan Oller tied the game, 7-7, with a run-scoring single
Sydney Pelaez hit a walk-off infield single to score Angelica Gallegos for the winning run
 

• Campbellsville outhit GGC by a 13-11 margin in the contest
• Four different Grizzlies collected at least two hits Friday
• Junior Kloey Goins went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs in the victory
• Senior pitcher Alexa Good (2-0) struck out 10 batters for the second time this season

• GGC improves to 5-0 on the season; Campbellsville drops to 2-1 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 14 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll; Campbellsville stood No. 20 in the same poll
• Friday marked the Grizzlies' first victory in six meetings against Campbellsville
• Georgia Gwinnett College began a 27-game home stand Friday

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host the single-day Grizzly Classic on Saturday, February 18, at the Grizzly Softball Complex. A game against Campbellsville University (Kentucky) is schedule at noon followed by a game against NCAA Division II Georgia Southwestern University at 4:30 p.m.