Timely hitting and strong pitching were once again a winning combination for the No. 4-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team in a 5-3 victory against Georgetown College (Kentucky) on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a successful three-day National Fastpitch Coaches Association NAIA Leadoff Classic at Columbus, Georgia.

The Grizzlies (9-1) won five of their six games at the event, outscoring the opposition by a 29-13 margin in the process.

On Sunday, GGC plated three runs in the top of the third inning to break open the contest. A two-run single by sophomore Summer Hickson stretched the lead to 5-0 in the fifth inning.

That came after back-to-back sacrifice flies from junior Angelica Gallegos and senior Kloey Goins started the scoring in the third inning. Hickson added a run-scoring single to give the Grizzlies the 3-0 advantage.

Meanwhile, junior pitcher Kailynn James scattered five hits and struck out eight batters in picking up the complete-game victory in the circle. The right hander improves to 2-0 on the season, with both of her wins coming during the NFCA NAIA Leadoff Classic.

Freshman Morgan McQuagge and Hickson each had two hits to pace the team's nine-hit offensive attack. McQuagge scored twice during Sunday's victory.

Senior Logan Oller earned all-tournament honors after batting .462 behind six hits, four runs scored and her first collegiate home run.
  "We received timely hits and moved runners along. It is nice to see the offense being productive. The team came out focused and the players were in command of themselves throughout the game. Logan was well deserving of being on the all-tournament team. We're a process-orientated program and she has done everything in her power to improve and be there to support the team," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  The Grizzlies broke open the finale of this weekend's NFCA NAIA Leadoff Classic behind a three-run third inning. Consecutive sacrifice flies by junior Angelica Gallegos and senior Kloey Goins started the scoring. Sophomore Summer Hickson added a run-scoring single later in the productive offensive frame. GGC would add two more insurance runs in the top of the fifth inning.
  Top of Third
Angelica Gallegos hit a sacrifice fly to score Sophie Sisk
Kloey Goins followed with another sacrifice fly to give the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead
Summer Hickson added an RBI single to bring home Morgan McQuagge
 
Top of Fifth
Summer Hickson drove in a pair of runs with a single
 

• The Grizzlies outhit Georgetown by a 9-5 margin
• Sophomore Summer Hickson went 2-for-4 with three RBI
• Junior pitcher Kailynn James struck out eight batters to improve to 2-0 inside the circle
• GGC recorded a pair of sacrifice flies in the contest

• GGC improves to 9-1 this spring; Georgetown drops to 1-6 on the season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 4 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll
• The team has won six of the seven games in the series with Georgetown
• Senior outfielder Logan Oller earned a spot on the NFCA NAIA Leadoff Classic all-tournament team

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Cumberland University (Tennessee) on Saturday, February 24, at the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at 1 p.m.