The No. 11-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team scored five unanswered runs to win the opener 5-1 only to see Saint Xavier University (Illinois) turn the tables for a 10-8 loss that split Thursday's doubleheader at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies (14-5) pushed three runs across in the third inning in the first contest. Senior Lea McFadden hit a run-scoring double to square the contest at 1-1. Sophomore Angelica Gallegos followed with an RBI groundout to second base and junior Kloey Goins capped the big offensive frame with a run-scoring single.

Junior Josie Haulk added to GGC's lead one inning later with a two-run single up the middle.

That offensive performance was enough for sophomore starting pitcher Annalise Wood, who recorded 11 strikeouts and scattered seven hits in the complete-game victory.

In the second game, the Grizzlies responded from a 4-0 first-inning deficit to score one run in the home half of the opening frame while adding six runs in the next two innings to grab a 7-4 advantage.

Senior Sydney Pelaez led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run over the right field fence – her third homer of the season. Consecutive two-run singles by Pelaez and Haulk in the second inning gave GGC a 5-4 lead.

However, Saint Xavier (12-8) answered by scoring runs in the final four innings. The Cougars eventually overcame an 8-7 deficit to tie the game in the sixth inning and then plating the go-ahead run on a two-run double from Sarah Bowen in the seventh inning.

Pelaez went 6-for-8 and scored four runs during the doubleheader. Goins collected two hits in both games.


  First Game
Bottom of Third
Lea McFadden tied the game, 1-1, with a run-scoring double
Angelica Gallegos hit an RBI groundout to second base
Kloey Goins added an RBI single
 
Bottom of Fourth
Josie Haulk brought home a pair of runs with a single to second base
 
Second Game
Bottom of First
Sydney Pelaez led off the game with a home run after Saint Xavier had taken a 4-0 lead
 
Bottom of Second
Sydney Pelaez hit a two-run single to bring the Grizzlies within a run, 4-3
Josie Haulk gave the hosts a 5-4 lead with another two-run single
 
Bottom of Sixth
Enna Lackey hit an RBI single to left-center field to once again gave the Grizzlies the lead, 8-7
 

• The Grizzlies tallied 22 hits across the doubleheader, led by 12 hits in the second game
• Senior Sydney Pelaez hit her third home run of the season
• Sophomore Annalise Wood recorded 11 strikeouts in the first contest
• Junior Kloey Goins collected two hits in both games on Thursday

• GGC stands 14-5 on the season; Saint Xavier is 12-9 in 2023
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 11 in the first NAIA Top 25 poll of the regular season, announced Wednesday by the national office
• GGC is 12-5 at the Grizzly Softball Complex in 2023

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Bacone College (Oklahoma) on Friday, March 10, at the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at 2 p.m.