Top moments of 2023-24: No. 7 - Double perfection as Brewton, Gawlinski throw perfect games in softball

Before the 2024 Gaston College softball season began, only once had a Rhinos' pitcher thrown a no-hitter.

During the 2024 season, two different Gaston College pitchers bettered that achievement with perfect games in home contests at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park - Abigail Brewton on Feb. 10 against Fayetteville Tech and Abigail Gawlinski on April 14 "Sophomore Day" against USC Sumter.

Brewton, a freshman, fired a five-inning gem in a 12-0 victory in the nightcap of a doubleheader sweep.

"She threw 42 pitches total," Steuerwald said of Brewton. "It was such an efficient game."

Brewton, who had previously thrown no-hitters in high school, didn't know she had been perfect until late in the game.

"It was really shocking and exciting because I had no idea I was throwing a no-hitter until the end," said Brewton, who struck out four batters in the game.

It was deja vu for Gawlinski a little more than two months later.

A right-hander from Des Plaines, Ill., who transferred from the University of Green Bay, Gawlinski needed 55 pitches to retire all 15 visiting Fire Ants batters in an 11-0 victory.

"I remember the excitement in the dugout when that was going on," Gawlinski said of Brewton's perfect game two months ago. "I started thinking after having a chance for this one after the third inning when we were up by eight. I knew I just had to mow them down and there were six outs left."