The Georgia Gwinnett College softball team scored nine runs in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader split against NCAA Division II USC Beaufort at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Sand Sharks captured the three-game series by taking the second contest 3-2 in eight innings after GGC picked up a 9-6 come-from-behind victory in the first game of the day.

In that opener, GGC (23-11) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning behind six consecutive hits to start the contest. Junior Angelica Gallegos drove in a run with a single down the left field line before senior Logan Oller hit an RBI ground out to plate the fourth run of the frame.

USC Beaufort (17-20) scored all of its runs during the third inning, tying the contest on a two-run double to left field from Chloe Turner. Daryn Miller followed with a run-scoring single through the right side of the infield.

GGC then came back to add five unanswered runs to the scoreboard from the third through five innings. Junior Jane Hoover drove in a pair of runs with a single in the fourth inning to give the hosts a 6-5 lead. Senior Kloey Goins added an RBI single to center field before a sacrifice fly from sophomore Summer Hickson during the fifth inning gave GGC a 9-6 advantage.

Goins went 4-for-4 with two runs scored to lead the team's 13-hit offensive attack in the opener.

Junior relief pitcher Mollie Peacock scattered four hits in three scoreless innings to pick up the victory. The right hander improved to 2-0 on the season.

Meanwhile, junior Annalise Jarvis recorded the final five outs to post her sixth save of the season, tying for the NAIA national lead.

In the nightcap, Turner hit a two-run home run down the left-field line in the top of the sixth inning and Mackenzie Fore hit a two-out RBI single in the eighth inning to lift the visitors to the series victory.
GGC answered by scoring two runs in the home half of the sixth inning as junior Haley Robinson lined a run-scoring double to plate the first run. A fielder's choice and a run down between first and second during junior Makenna Talcott's at bat led Robinson to score the tying run.
  "I know we're a good team and we have it in us to win these games. Sometimes you have to battle to the very end to learn more about yourself and what it takes to win these situations. We made some good adjustments in the first game," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  After seeing USC Beaufort take a 6-4 lead by scoring six runs in the top of the third inning, the Grizzlies rebounded by scoring five runs across the next three innings to win the opener. Junior Jane Hoover hit a go-ahead two-run single in the fourth inning. Senior Kloey Goins added an RBI single before junior Summer Hickson hit a sacrifice fly to cap a two-run fifth inning and extend the lead to the eventual 9-6 victory.
  Key Plays
First Game
Bottom of First
Lindzie Owen successfully stole home to open the scoring
Angelica Gallegos hit an RBI single down the left field line that gave the Grizzlies a 3-0 lead
Logan Oller followed with an RBI ground out to second base
 
Top of Third
Chloe Turner lined a two-run double to left field that tied the contest at 4-4
Daryn Miller followed with an RBI single that gave the Sand Sharks their first lead of the game
Jaden Goodwin hit a fielder's choice to cap the six-run frame
 
Bottom of Third
Sophie Sisk hit a run-scoring single with two outs to cut the deficit to 6-5
 
Bottom of Fourth
Jane Hoover collected a two-run single to left field that plated two runs and gave the Grizzlies the lead, at 7-6
 
Bottom of Fifth
Kloey Goins lined an RBI single to center field for her fourth hit of the contest
Summer Hickson hit a sacrifice fly that scored Lindzie Owen
 
Second Game
Top of Sixth
Chloe Turner hit a two-run home run down the left field line
 
Bottom of Sixth
Haley Robinson lined a run-scoring double to left center field
Makenna Talcott hit a fielder's choice where the tying run, at 2-2, was scored following a run down play with Talcott between first and second base
 
Top of Eighth
Mackenzie Fore hit a go-ahead RBI single with two outs to left field that gave the Sand Sharks a 3-2 lead
 

• The Grizzlies recorded 14 of their 20 hits on the day during the first game
• Senior Kloey Goins had six putouts from center field in the second game; she went 4-for-4 with two runs scored at the plate in Saturday's first contest
• Junior Annalise Jarvis picked up her sixth save of the season to tie for the national lead
• Junior Makenna Talcott scored three runs in the opener

• GGC is 23-11 this spring; USC Beaufort stands 17-20 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 9 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll on Wednesday; USC Beaufort competes at the NCAA Division II collegiate ranks
• Georgia Gwinnett College has a 20-12 record in the all-time series history
• The team is 16-5 at the Grizzly Softball Complex this season

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Thomas University (Georgia) for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 13, at the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at 2 p.m.