The No. 11-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team turned clutch hits into a pair of 4-1 and 2-0 victories Friday afternoon to open a weekend series against Lindsey Wilson College (Kentucky) at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies (24-5) extended their winning streak to 10 games and are now 20-5 during the current 25-game home stand that ends with Saturday's doubleheader.

Junior Claire Garney lined a go-ahead double to score a pair of runs in the sixth inning that were decisive in Friday's opening game. The extra-base hit broke a 1-1 deadlock. An infield single by sophomore Lindzie Owen capped the team's three-run frame.

GGC scored an unearned run in the first inning of that game as senior Sydney Pelaez touched home plate following a throwing error on a ground ball.

Lindsey Wilson (10-12) tied the game, 1-1, with a sacrifice fly in the third inning.

Then in the second contest, senior Lea McFadden legged out a two-run triple down the right field line to give the hosts a 2-0 fifth-inning advantage that stood up as the final score.

Amidst the opportunistic hitting was even-more clutch performances within the Grizzlies' pitching circle.

Sophomore pitcher Kailyn Berry struck out five batters and worked around six hits to pick up the first-game victory. The reigning Continental Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week picked up her fifth win of the season.

Sophomore Annalise Wood recorded 15 strikeouts and scattered just two hits in tossing her fifth shutout of the season. She improved to 10-1 and lowered her earned run average to 0.37 in 74.2 innings so far this spring.


  "The stretch drive of any season brings quality-over-quantity hits being the deciding factor in games. We need to continue improving in making our in-game adjustments. Those are the situations that made the difference late in both games," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  Veteran players provided key go-ahead hits late for the Grizzlies in Friday's contests. Junior Claire Garney lined a two-run double to right field to break open a 1-1 deadlock in the sixth inning of the opening contest. Then, senior Lea McFadden provided all the scoring that sophomore pitcher Annalise Wood needed with a two-run triple in the fifth inning of the second game.
  First Game
Bottom of First
Sydney Pelaez scored from second base following an error for the first run of the game
 
Top of Third
Amanda Schick tied the game, 1-1, for Lindsey Wilson with a sacrifice fly to center field
 
Bottom of Sixth
Claire Garney hit a go-ahead double that scored two runs
Lindzie Owen added an infield single to give the Grizzlies a 4-1 lead
 
Second Game
Bottom of Fifth
Lea McFadden lined a triple down the right field line that gave the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead
 

• The Grizzlies tallied 16 hits across Friday's doubleheader, with 11 coming in the first game
• Sophomore pitcher Annalise Wood recorded 15 strikeouts in the second contest; she now has 138 for the season
• Senior Lea McFadden went 4-for-7 at the plate across the two games
• Junior center fielder Kloey Goins had three defensive putouts in Friday's first game

• GGC improves to 24-5 on the season, while Lindsey Wilson drops to 10-12 in 2023
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 11 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
• GGC has an 8-4 lead in the all-time series, including a 7-1 record in Lawrenceville
• The team has a 20-5 record so far during the current 25-game home stand

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to conclude the four-game weekend set and 27-game home stand with another doubleheader against Lindsey Wilson College (Kentucky) on Saturday, March 25, at the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at noon.