Consecutive RBI singles with two outs in the sixth inning propelled the No. 9-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team to a doubleheader split against No. 25 Reinhardt University (Georgia) on Wednesday afternoon at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies (21-8) won three of the four games against Reinhardt this spring by winning the nightcap 5-3. The Eagles (21-7) took the opener by an identical two-run margin, 6-4.

Sophomore Summer Hickson lined a single to center field to break a 3-3 deadlock with two outs. Junior Angelica Gallegos followed with another run-scoring single, this one down the left field line, to plate a key insurance run.

The Grizzlies rallied from a 3-2 deficit after Emily Loveless put the visitors ahead with a double to right-center field in the top of the fifth inning.

Senior Logan Oller squared the contest, at 3-3, with an RBI single to center field in the bottom half of the fifth frame.

After winning the first game of the day, Reinhardt plated two runs in the top of the first inning of the nightcap, only to see the hosts respond with two runs of their own in the bottom of the opening inning. Junior Lindzie Owen scored following a wild pitch before classmate Jane Hoover hit a run-scoring ground out to second base, tying the game at 2-2.

Standout pitchers Annalise Jarvis for GGC and Whitney Shepherd for Reinhardt matched each other pitch for pitch until the fifth inning.

"I knew that I had to make an adjustment and had to come through for my team in that (sixth-inning) moment. We know that we're gritty in those moments," said Hickson on her go-ahead plate appearance in the nightcap.

Jarvis, a 2023 All-American, improved her record to 11-3 inside the pitching circle this season. She struck out six opposing batters in the complete-game victory – the second straight against Reinhardt, after winning 3-1 last Tuesday in Waleska, Georgia.

In the day's opener, the Eagles plated three runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4-1 lead. Loveless hit a two-run double to right field before Alexis Teems hit an infield RBI single.

Oller lined a run-scoring double to the left-center field gap in the bottom of the fourth inning to trim the deficit to 4-2. Jill Martinet hit her second solo home run of the game, this one clearing the fence in the top of the fifth inning.

GGC mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning by plating two runs and having the go-ahead run at the plate with one out. Jarvis hit an RBI ground out to second base before junior Kailynn James brought home sophomore Enna Lackey with a single down the right-field line.

However, Reinhardt reliever Ally Andriano halted the threat by getting a strikeout after a GGC runner was thrown out attempting to steal third base.

Owen paced the team's eight-hit offensive attack in the opener by going 3-for-3, with two runs scored.


  "It was awesome to see our process turn into a win today. We had a lot of opportunities in the first game that we were just a base hit short on converting. Those base hits came through in the second game. Summer (Hickson) is a quality hitter. We need to see ourselves relaxing and trusting that the work we're doing in practice is going to carry over to be executed in game situations," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  The Grizzlies delivered clutch at-bats with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn a split of Wednesday's doubleheader. Sophomore Summer Hickson lined a go-ahead RBI single to center field to score junior Kayla Good from second base. Junior Angelica Gallegos followed with a single down the left field line to plate a key insurance run. This came after GGC brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the first game, but the team was unable to collect a clutch late-inning hit.
  First Game
Bottom of First
Lindzie Owen scored on a wild pitch to open the scoring
 
Top of Second
Jill Martinet hit the first of her two solo home runs in the contest
 
Top of Fourth
Emily Loveless lined a two-run double to right field that gave the Eagles a 3-1 lead
Alexis Teems hit an infield RBI single
 
Bottom of Fourth
Logan Oller connected on a run-scoring double to left-center field that brought home Summer Hickson
 
Bottom of Seventh
Annalise Jarvis hit a run-scoring ground out to second base
Kailynn James followed with a single down the right field line to cut the deficit to 6-4
 
Second Game
Bottom of First
Lindzie Owen once again opened the game by scoring following a wild pitch
Jane Hoover hit an RBI ground out to second base that tied the contest at 2-2
 
Bottom of Fifth
Logan Oller lined a run-scoring single to center field that brought home Enna Lackey to square the game at 3-3
 
Bottom of Sixth
Summer Hickson lined a go-ahead RBI single to center field with two outs
Angelica Gallegos followed with a single down the left field line to plate an insurance run
 

• The Grizzlies registered 15 hits across Wednesday's two games, with eight hits coming in the first contest
• Junior Lindzie Owen successfully stole four bases in the opener
• Freshman Sophie Sisk recorded three putouts from right field during the nightcap
• GGC left eight base runners in the first game

• GGC stands 21-8 this spring; Reinhardt is 21-7 in 2024
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 9 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll; Reinhardt stood No. 25 in the same poll
• Georgia Gwinnett College has an 18-10-1 record in the all-time series history
• Junior pitcher Annalise Jarvis was recognized as GGC's 2022-23 Female Athlete of the Year prior to Wednesday's contest

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host No. 13 University of Mobile (Alabama) on Tuesday, April 2, at the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at 2 p.m.