The top-seeded Georgia Gwinnett College softball team rallied to score two runs in the sixth inning before eventually getting a walk-off run-scoring single to defeat No. 4-seed USC Beaufort 3-2 in Thursday's opening game of the 2023 Continental Athletic Conference Softball Championship tournament at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies (38-9) will face Crowley's Ridge College (Arkansas) in a winner's bracket contest on Friday, May 5, starting at noon. The No. 3-seed Pioneers scored four runs in the seventh inning to defeat No. 2-seed Florida National University 5-1 in Thursday's other first-round game.

CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

Junior Josie Haulk culminated GGC's seventh-inning rally with an infield single to first base that allowed freshman Enna Lackey to slide into home before the tag was applied. Lackey got on base with a one-out single to left-center field. She advanced into scoring position after senior Sydney Pelaez was hit by a pitch. The GGC players then each stole a base to put Lackey into scoring position at third base, in a one-out situation, with Haulk coming to the plate.

One inning earlier, junior Kloey Goins hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Lindzie Owen to bring the tournament hosts within a run, at 2-1, of catching USC Beaufort. Junior Logan Oller followed with a two-out RBI infield single to third base that allowed sophomore Emerson Hall to score the game-tying run.

USC Beaufort (11-42) enjoyed an early 2-0 lead after stringing together four straight singles in the top of the first inning. Jaci Coleman's run-scoring single to left-center field plated the first run. A bases-loaded walk to Ashlyn Alte then allowed the Sand Sharks to score an additional run.

GGC starting pitcher Annalise Wood kept the South Carolina opponent off the scoreboard for the rest of the game. The right hander struck out eight batters and scattered seven hits in improving to 21-1 inside the pitching circle.

Meanwhile, USC Beaufort's Cierra Kinlaw kept the Grizzlies off the scoreboard through five innings, with five of GGC's nine hits coming in the final two innings.

Haulk, Oller and Owen each tallied two hits to pace the Grizzlies in the opening game. Owen also successfully stole two bases to raise her season total to 44 steals.

The Grizzlies have won the last five conference tournament titles and are seeking their seventh overall crown.

 

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: @GGCAthletics rallies to defeat @USCBAthletics 3-2 to open this year's CAC Softball Championship. Grizzlies win on a walk-off infield single. Video courtesy of @GDN_Production #CACSoftball pic.twitter.com/jbCAK4IZBA

— Continental Athletics (@CAC_SportsNAIA) May 4, 2023

  "Speed was once again a key element for us in this tournament opener. We have players who know how to run on the bases and beat throws. Two veterans produced two quality at-bats that scored important runs for us in the sixth inning. I knew that if we could get Enna (Lackey) to third base in that (seventh inning) situation, then Josie (Haulk) would come through for us with the winning run," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  A pair of infield singles helped Georgia Gwinnett College rally past USC Beaufort in the opening game of postseason play. Trailing by a run, 2-1, in the bottom of the sixth inning, junior Logan Oller hit a slow chopper to third base and hustled to beat the throw to first base. That allowed the tying run to score with two outs. Then, in the bottom of the seventh inning, junior Josie Haulk hit a slow roller down the first base line that allowed freshman Enna Lackey to slide in before the tag for the game-winning run.
  Top of First
Jaci Coleman hit a run-scoring single to left field to open the scoring
Ashlyn Alte drew a bases-loaded walk that gave the Sand Sharks a 2-0 lead
 
Bottom of Sixth
Kloey Goins hit a sacrifice fly that brought the Grizzlies within a run, 2-1
Logan Oller followed with a two-out RBI single to third base to tie the contest
 
Bottom of Seventh
Josie Haulk hit a walk-off infield single that brought home Enna Lackey for the game-winning run
 

• The Grizzlies outhit USC Beaufort by a 9-7 margin in the tournament opener
• Sophomore Lindzie Owen successfully stole two bases to bring her season total to 44 steals
• Junior Logan Oller went 2-for-3 and drove in a run in the victory
• GGC registered its fourth victory when trailing after five innings this season

• GGC improves to 38-9 on the season, while USC Beaufort drops to 11-42 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 8 in the final NAIA Top 25 poll
• GGC was the No. 1 seed in the 2023 Continental Athletic Conference Softball Championship; USC Beaufort stood as the No. 4 seed
• The team has won the last five conference tournament titles

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play No. 3-seed Crowley's Ridge College (Arkansas) on Friday, May 5, at noon to start the second day of the 2023 Continental Athletic Conference Softball Championship tournament from the Grizzly Softball Complex.