A pair of strong pitching performances combined with clutch hitting led the No. 4-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team to a pair of victories in Friday's opening day of the 2024 season at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies (2-0) defeated Lindsey Wilson College (Kentucky) 2-0 before adding a 6-1 triumph against Taylor University (Indiana) later in the afternoon.

Junior pitcher Annalise Jarvis struck out 14 batters and scattered two hits in tossing a shutout in the opener. Classmate Kailyn Berry scattered four hits and eight strikeouts across seven innings in the complete-game victory against Taylor.

"You definitely have first-game jitters. I'm excited to get this season off on the right path," said Jarvis, the 2023 NAIA Softball National Pitcher of the Year. "I know that the [GGC] hitters are going to pick me up if I give up some hits or runs, and at the same time I'm going to pick up the defense."

GGC got a pair of two-out base hits to produce the scoring in the season opener against the Blue Raiders. Senior Kloey Goins hit an RBI single to left field that scored junior Haley Robinson in the bottom of the third inning.

Then, Jarvis pitched out of a jam in the top fifth inning with three consecutive strikeouts after the visitors put the potential game-tying run at third base with no outs.

The hosts added a key insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning when junior Angelica Gallegos lined an RBI double off the left field wall with two outs to score freshman Morgan McQuagge.

In the nightcap, the Grizzlies used a pair of extra-base hits to score five runs in the third inning to build a 6-0 advantage against Taylor. Sophomore Summer Hickson lined a bases-clearing triple to right-center field to plate three of those runs. Freshman Angelina del Pozo added a run-scoring double to cap the big offensive inning.

Junior Lindzie Owen opened both opening-day contests with a triple. The center fielder scored in the opening frame following an RBI ground out from McQuagge.

"We made the adjustments and we started playing Grizzly softball. The third inning showed what we're capable of as a team," said Owen, who tallied two of GGC's six hits in the second game.

Berry recorded a career-high eight strikeouts in the strong pitching performance.

"Our pitching staff really did a good job today. It was a new battery (pitcher-catcher combination) for both of us (with Gallegos in Game 1 and del Pozo in Game 2 behind the plate). We worked hard in the preseason to develop the chemistry to help us have success," said Berry.


  "Some of our positions are young, but we're experienced in the circle and that's a blessing that allows the lineup and position players to learn their roles for this season. I was very pleased with both Annalise and Kailyn today. It was nice to see us executing the things that we work on practice – in at-bats and making plays on the field in the third inning against Taylor," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  With GGC leading 1-0, Lindsey Wilson had a potential game-tying run at third base with no outs in the top of the fifth inning. However, junior pitcher Annalise Jarvis struck out the next three batters to maintain the slim advantage. The Grizzlies then added a key insurance run with a two-out RBI double from junior Angelica Gallegos in the sixth inning.
  Lindsey Wilson Game
Bottom of Third
Kloey Goins hit a run-scoring single to left field to open the scoring
 
Top of Fifth
Annalise Jarvis struck out three consecutive batters to strand a potential game-tying run at third base
 
Bottom of Sixth
Angelica Gallegos lined a two-out RBI double off the left field wall to plate a key insurance run
 
Taylor Game
Bottom of First
Morgan McQuagge hit an RBI ground out to bring home Lindzie Owen after she opened the game with a triple
 
Bottom of Third
Kloey Goins hit an infield RBI single to third base to give the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead
Summer Hickson cleared the bases with a triple to right-center field
Angelina del Pozo legged out a double to cap a five-run frame
 

• The Grizzlies tallied 11 hits across Friday's two games
• Junior pitcher Annalise Jarvis struck out 14 batters against Lindsey Wilson
• Five of GGC's 11 hits went for extra bases, including three triples
• Junior Lindzie Owen opened each contest with a triple

• GGC is 2-0 after opening the 2024 season on Friday; Lindsey Wilson stands 1-1 on the season; Taylor is 0-2 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 4 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll
• GGC holds a 10-5 lead in the series history with Lindsey Wilson; Friday marked the first meeting against Taylor in the program's 12-year history
• The team won 30 home games last season

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to conclude the weekend by hosting Lindsey Wilson College (Kentucky) and Taylor University (Indiana) on Saturday, February 10, from the Grizzly Softball Complex. Games are set for noon (Lindsey Wilson) and 4 p.m. (Taylor).