The Georgia Gwinnett College softball team accomplished a first for the program Friday by winning three games in a single day to begin play in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association NAIA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia.

The No. 4-ranked Grizzlies (7-0) earned a 3-1 win against Webber International University (Florida) in the morning before defeating Calumet College of Saint Joseph (Indiana) 12-2 in five innings in the afternoon. Then, the team closed out the busy day with a 2-1 win against Jessup University (California) in the evening.

Junior Angelica Gallegos hit a pair of run-scoring singles in the first and third innings to give GGC a 2-0 lead against Jessup.

Sarah Giles cut the deficit in half, 2-1, with a solo home in the top of the fifth inning.

Junior Annalise Jarvis struck out 16 batters and allowed just three hits to improve to 3-0 for the season inside the pitching circle.

The Grizzlies outhit Jessup by an 8-3 margin, with juniors Kailynn James and Haley Robinson joining Gallegos in each recording two hits in the victory.

The team scored its 12 runs on 12 hits in the decisive victory during the middle game of the day. GGC plated six runs in the bottom of the second inning. Then, five more runs were added in the third inning to grab a commanding 12-2 lead.

James hit a pair of two-run home runs in consecutive innings. Freshman Alex Shores connected on a solo home run to open the productive second inning. Junior Jane Hoover legged out an RBI triple to cap the six-run second inning.

Senior Kloey Goins added a two-run single in the third inning.

Junior Kailyn Berry scattered five hits and recorded four strikeouts to pick up her third win of the season.

GGC scored three runs in the third inning to win the opening game of the day.

The games in Columbus, Georgia, are being played at the site of this year's NAIA World Series.
 
Coach's Corner
"It was a long, but successful day. We executed when we were given the chances against Jessup. There's still room for improvement. It was nice to see Kailynn (James) break out in the second game. She is starting to settle in as a Grizzly. We got contributions from a lot of players today," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play IU Southeast and Lawrence Tech
on the second day of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association NAIA Leadoff Classic on Saturday, February 17, in Columbus, Georgia, starting at 3:30 p.m.