BRUNSWICK, Ga. – It was a midweek double header split between two Top 20 teams in the country on Tuesday afternoon in Brunswick, as the Coastal Georgia softball team took game one 6-1 before falling by the same score in game 2 to the ninth ranked Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies.
Game One: CCGA 6, GGC 1
As expected, the first three innings were the textbook definition of a pitchers duel, as both pitchers combined to allow just one hit. The Mariners (31-8, 11-4 TSC) did manage to get a runner in scoring position in the first two innings, but were unable to cash in and the game moved all the way to the fourth inning tied at zero with no signs of changing.
Things did change in a big way, however, as the Mariners exploded for six runs on six hits in the inning to completely flip the game upside down.
Bryce Peacock, who was in the midst of pitching her best game of the season, started the inning with a solo home run to left field, putting the first run on the scoreboard for CCGA.
Rylee Mills immediately followed with a single into right field, and her pinch runner
Rylee Maxwell stole second.
Julianna Batts later reached on a fielder's choice, stole second, and came around to score on a single from
Mackenzie Southerland.
MacKenzie Kagee kept the line moving by drawing a walk and
Rily Andrews doubled to left center scoring Southerland. One batter later,
Alyssa Haggerty doubled into center driving in runs four and five of the inning. Later in the inning,
Rori Rhodes grounded out to shortstop driving in Haggerty and putting a cap on the big inning for CCGA.
In the top of the fifth, two walks put runners on the corners, and Sisk came around to score on a passed ball to cut into the score, making it 6-1 into the bottom of the fifth.
For the next two innings, the Grizzlies (25-12) failed to get a runner on base as Peacock shut down their offense to secure the 6-1 victory.
The Mariners struck for six hits on the game coming from six different players, with Haggerty adding a pair of RBI's to lead the offense. Peacock pitched another complete game to pick up win number 14 on the season, going the full seven innings allowing just one hit and one run, giving up three walks and striking out five.
Game Two: CCGA 1, GGC 6
It took until the second inning, but the Grizzlies wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in game two, striking for two runs in the top half. After back-to-back walks with one out, a single from Gallegos loaded the bases bringing up Good. It was a fielder's choice that brought home the game's first run, as Hoover was thrown out at home trying to score two. One batter later, Lackey singled home Gallegos to make the score 2-0 going to the bottom of the second.
Mills started the home half of the second with a leadoff double and moved to third on a two out single from
Rily Andrews. Haggerty struck out to end the inning, stranding a pair and keeping the score 2-0.
Both sides managed just one hit each in the third, and in the fourth, the Mariners threatened. Back-to-back singles from Batts and Southerland with one out put CCGA in business, and two batters later, Haggerty singled into right field to load the bases. Once again, the bases were left stranded as
Emma Jones flew out to left, ending the threat and keeping the same score into the fifth.
After Mills kept the Grizzlies off the board once again, the Mariners finally broke through in game two. With one out, Rhodes singled, Peacock walked, and Mills singled to once again load the bases with one out. Batts drove home Rhodes with a sac fly to make the score 2-1 going into the sixth inning.
The wheels fell off for the Mariners in the sixth as the Grizzlies plated four runs on four hits in the inning, scoring the last two runs of the inning via the wild pitch, and widening the gap to 6-1. CCGA went down in order in the bottom of the sixth to send the game to its final frame.
In the seventh, Jarvis sat the Mariners down in order to get the 6-1 win for the Grizzlies and split the Tuesday double header.
Mills finished game two 2-3 at the plate with a double, as seven of the nine starters for CCGA recorded at least one hit. Batts drove in the lone run of the game, and Peacock drew the lone walk of the ballgame and just the eighth walk surrendered by Jarvis all season.
Mills went 5.1 innings in the circle allowing nine hits and six earned runs in the losing effort.
Elizabeth McGovern pitched 1.2 innings allowing just two hits and no runs in relief.
The Mariners remain at home this weekend when they welcome in the Southeastern Fire for a three game, Sun Conference series. First pitch is slated for Friday at 2 p.m.
