The No. 8-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team scored early and often in sweeping the United States Sports University (Alabama) by 12-4 and 8-0 scores during Friday's Military Appreciation Day at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

Eight of the Grizzlies (20-5) 12 runs in the opener came with two outs in the inning. The team's last four wins have come in five-inning contests.

Senior Angelica Gallegos cleared the bases with a triple in the opening frame to give GGC an early 6-0 advantage. This came after classmate Jane Hoover lined an RBI double off the wall in left field to open the scoring. Sophomore Morgan McQuagge later added a run-scoring single.

Within a few innings, senior Haley Robinson hit an infield RBI single that extended the team's lead to 10-0.

Senior pitcher Kailynn James went the distance inside the pitching circle, improving her record to 6-2 on the season.

In the nightcap, senior pitcher Annalise Jarvis tossed her eighth career no-hitter, striking out nine batters in the process, to improve to 11-1 this spring. She now has a dazzling 0.51 earned run average.

GGC started fast once again, with Hoover hitting an RBI ground out in the opening inning.

Sophomore Sophie Sisk lined a two-run double to center field that extended the lead to 5-0 in the fourth inning. Robinson then cleared the bases with a double down the left field line in the next frame.

Georgia Gwinnett College's Office of Athletics honored local military personnel throughout the contest and had a flyover of two T-1 aircraft from Columbus Air Force Base (Mississippi).


 
Coach's Corner
"The offense did a lot of good things, especially early, to pick up two wins. Military Appreciation Day is always special within our program. Serving something bigger than yourself is a major part of life. (Assistant Coach) John (Ihlenburg) has given so much. Recognizing him with the first pitch is something he takes great pride in," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Turning Point
The Grizzlies used a pair of fast starts to sweep Friday's home doubleheader. All eight runs in the opening game were scored with two outs in the inning. Then, GGC pushed across an early run in the nightcap as senior Jane Hoover hit an RBI ground out to shortstop. Hoover set a positive tone for the first contest with a double to left field.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Bottom of First
Jane Hoover opened the scoring with an RBI double to left field
Morgan McQuagge followed with a run-scoring single to center field
Angelica Gallegos cleared the bases with a triple that extended the lead to 6-0
Casey Beaver added a run-scoring single to plate the team's eighth run of the frame
 
Bottom of Second
Haley Robinson hit an infield RBI single to plate Enna Lackey
 
Bottom of Fourth
Kaitlyn Crumley hit a sacrifice fly to center field, giving the hosts an 11-1 lead
 
Second Game
Bottom of First
Jane Hoover hit an RBI ground out to shortstop that brought home Sara Roussel
 
Bottom of Fourth
Sophie Sisk lined a two-run double to center field, extending GGC's lead to 5-0
 
Bottom of Fifth
Haley Robinson cleared the bases with a double down the left field line that scored the team's eighth run of the contest
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies registered 17 hits in sweeping Friday's doubleheader
• Junior Enna Lackey, an Army ROTC cadet, went 2-for-2, with three runs scored, and two stolen bases during the first game
• Senior Jane Hoover drove in three runs on the day
• Senior Annalise Jarvis tossed her eighth career no-hitter

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 20-5 this spring; United States Sports University stands 4-23 on the season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 8 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
• The team won all three meetings this season against the Eagles
• Georgia Gwinnett College's Office of Athletics honored local military personnel and held a flyover during pregame festivities on Military Appreciation Day

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Spartanburg Methodist College (South Carolina) in a doubleheader on Saturday, March 22, at the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at 2 p.m. Both teams are members of the Continental Athletic Conference.