Rallying from a pair of deficits, the No. 5-seeded Georgia Gwinnett College softball team then scored two runs in the sixth inning to defeat No. 8 seed Central Methodist University (Missouri) 9-7 on Saturday morning to remain in contention at the NAIA World Series in Columbus, Georgia.

The victory extends the Grizzlies' season to Monday, May 29, where they will play their third elimination game of the World Series, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. GGC will face No. 7 Marian University (Indiana).

GLORY DAYS

With the score tied at 7-7, GGC capped the productive day by scoring two runs on an opposing wild pitch and throwing error for the go-ahead runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Junior Logan Oller hit a double to right field to put two runners into scoring position in the inning. Sophomore Angelica Gallegos then scored on the wild pitch before Oller came home on Central Methodist's fourth error of the contest, giving GGC the decisive 9-7 advantage.

The Eagles connected on two homers in building a 5-1 lead. Madison White hit a three-run home run during the first frame and Lauren Hill added a two-run round tripper in the top of the fourth inning.

The Grizzlies (45-11) began their rally by scoring three runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings, giving the team a 7-6 lead. Freshman Summer Hickson opened the fourth frame with her second career home run. Sophomore Lindzie Owen and senior Lea McFadden added back-to-back RBI singles to bring the Grizzlies within a run, 5-4.

Another big offensive inning came for GGC in the fifth inning. Senior Sydney Pelaez hit an RBI ground out to score Oller. A fielding error on a ground ball from junior Josie Haulk allowed the tying run to score and Owen's run-scoring single up the middle put the team ahead.

Central Methodist (42-12) tied the contest, 7-7, with a run in the top of the sixth inning.

However, Georgia Gwinnett College had the final answer in the bottom of the sixth frame. Gallegos and Oller collected base hits with one out in consecutive at-bats to setup the game-winning runs.

Senior Alexa Good picked up the victory (12-4) by tossing two innings in relief. Sophomore Annalise Wood retired the Eagles in order during the seventh inning to record her fourth save of the 2023 season. Wood recorded six of her seven strikeouts across the first four innings of the contest, then returned in the top of the seventh inning.

GGC's offense tallied 11 hits after only recording three hits through its first two games at the World Series. Four players had multiple-hit performances: Hickson led the way by going 3-for-4 with two RBI and scoring two runs; Gallegos scored twice and added two hits; Oller went 2-for-3 with two runs scored; and Owen drove in a pair of runs and had two hits.
  "We got timely hitting and good base running today. We got the job done and I'm proud of this group. We were very present and behind each other. The energy was together and we were playing for one another," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  The Grizzlies rallied from 5-1 and 6-5 deficits by utilizing their most productive offensive performance of this year's World Series. The bottom of the lineup tallied seven hits and scored six runs to spark the rally. A home run by freshman Summer Hickson opened a three-run fourth inning. One inning later, GGC pushed across three runs to take a 7-6 lead. Then, the team took the lead for good on a wild pitch and throwing error – Central Methodist's fourth error of the contest – that scored sophomore Angelica Gallegos and junior Logan Oller in the bottom of the sixth inning.
  Top of First
Madison White connected on a three-run home run
 
Bottom of Second
Summer Hickson lined an RBI to left-center field
 
Top of Fourth
Lauren Hill hit a two-run homer that gave the Eagles a 5-1 lead
 
Bottom of Fourth
Summer Hickson opened the frame with a home run
Lindzie Owen hit a run-scoring single to shortstop that brought home Emerson Hall
Lea McFadden followed with an RBI single that brought the Grizzlies within 5-4
 
Bottom of Fifth
Sydney Pelaez hit an RBI groundout to the pitcher that allowed Summer Hickson to score
Lindzie Owen gave the Grizzlies a 7-6 lead with a single up the middle that scored Enna Lackey
 
Bottom of Sixth
Angelica Gallegos scored the go-ahead run, 8-7, on a wild pitch while Logan Oller also came around to score following a throwing error on the same play
 

• Both teams registered 11 hits in the contest
• Freshman Summer Hickson went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored; Hickson also hit her second career home run
• GGC's 6-7-8 hitters in the batting lineup were 7-for-10 and scored six runs
• Senior Alexa Good picked up her 12th win of the season by tossing two innings in relief; she is the third GGC pitcher to be in the circle during the World Series

• GGC improves to 45-11 on the season, while Central Methodist ends the season with a 42-12 record
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 8 in the final NAIA Top 25 poll; Central Methodist stood No. 15 in the same poll
• GGC was the No. 5 seed in the NAIA World Series bracket; Central Methodist was the No. 8 seed
• The Grizzlies won their second straight elimination game at the 2023 NAIA World Series

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play Marian University (Indiana) on Monday, May 29, at the 2023 NAIA World Series in Columbus, Georgia, starting at 1 p.m.