The Georgia Gwinnett College softball team capped its season-opening weekend with two more wins Saturday, in quite different styles, at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies (4-0) recorded a walk-off 3-2 triumph against Lindsey Wilson College (Kentucky) before plating 10 runs in the fourth inning to defeat Taylor University (Indiana) 12-0 in five innings during the nightcap.

Consecutive throwing errors by the Blue Raiders with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning led the hosts to the opening victory of the day. Freshman Sophie Sisk reached on the first defensive miscue before junior Lindzie Owen hit a ground ball to shortstop that resulted in a wide throw down the right field line. That mistake allowed Sisk to hustle all the way from first base and slide home safely for the divisive third run of the contest.

GGC built a 2-0 lead against Lindsey Wilson through four innings. Senior Kloey Goins hit a sacrifice fly to score Owen in the first inning. Sophomore Summer Hickson connected on a home run over the left field fence to open the fourth inning.

The Blue Raiders (1-3) chipped away at the deficit by plating a run in the top of the fifth inning before squaring the contest at 2-2 when Katie Lorenz scored following a wild pitch in the sixth inning.

GGC's seventh-inning game-winning rally came after the Blue Raiders had turned a double play to wipe away a leadoff walk to junior Makenna Talcott.

In the nightcap, the Grizzlies sent 16 batters to the plate in the fourth inning, scoring 10 runs in the process on eight base hits. Junior Jane Hoover opened the big offensive frame with a two-run double. She later added an RBI single to bring home the ninth run of the inning.

Junior Angelica Gallegos lined a two-run single up the middle to give the hosts a 10-0 advantage. Owen, Goins and Talcott each added run-scoring singles for the Grizzlies.

GGC struck first on an RBI single to center field by freshman Morgan McQuagge in the opening frame. The Grizzlies manufactured another run an inning later to take an early advantage.

Junior Annalise Jarvis struck out 10 batters and allowed one hit across four scoreless innings against Taylor to improve her record to 2-0 on the season. Junior Mollie Peacock tossed a scoreless fifth inning to preserve the shutout.

Classmate Kailyn Berry also moved to 2-0 inside the pitching circle with two innings in relief during Saturday's opening game. Junior Kailynn James scattered three hits across the first five innings for the Grizzlies.

"We really took what we have practiced into the game," said Owen about the team's strong play in first four games of the season.


  "We learned a lot about ourselves this weekend. We were able to manufacture some runs but were also able to drive in some runs. It's rare at this time of the season to execute offensively at such a high level to produce an inning like that (10-run fourth inning against Taylor). I'm pumped that we were able to capitalize on our opportunities," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  The Grizzlies refused to give up in the bottom of the seventh inning against Lindsey Wilson, despite having two outs in the inning after hitting into a double play that erased all base runners. Freshman Sophie Sisk reached following an error. Then, junior Lindzie Owen hit a ground ball to shortstop that resulted in a wide throw that opened the way for Sisk to score all the way from first base for the game-winning run, 3-2.
  Lindsey Wilson Game
Bottom of First
Kloey Goins hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Lindzie Owen
 
Bottom of Fourth
Summer Hickson led off the frame with a home run to left field
 
Top of Sixth
Katie Lorenz scored on a wild pitch to tie the game, 2-2
 
Bottom of Seventh
Sophie Sisk scored from first base following a throwing error for the game-winning run
 
Taylor Game
Bottom of Fourth
Jane Hoover lined a two-run double to open the 10-run offensive inning
Lindzie Owen added an RBI single through the right side of the infield
Kloey Goins hit an infield single to score Makenna Talcott
Angelica Gallegos collected a two-run single up the middle to give the Grizzlies a 10-0 lead
Jane Hoover added another run-scoring base hit
Makenna Talcott capped the frame with an infield RBI single
 

• The Grizzlies recorded 14 hits across the two games on Saturday, with 10 hits coming against Taylor
• Sophomore Summer Hickson connected on the team's first home of the 2024 season
• GGC had five stolen bases on the day
• Juniors Kailyn Berry and Annalise Jarvis each improved to 2-0 inside the pitching circle for the season

• GGC improves to 4-0 on the season; Lindsey Wilson stands 1-3 on the season; Taylor is 1-3 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 4 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll
• GGC holds a 11-5 lead in the series history with Lindsey Wilson; Grizzlies won the two games this weekend against Taylor in the first meetings between the two colleges
• The team scored 10 runs in the fourth inning against Taylor on Saturday

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association NAIA Leadoff Classic from February 16-18 in Columbus, Georgia.