The No. 2-seeded Georgia Gwinnett College softball team used a combination of strong pitching and productive hitting to score a 4-0 victory over No. 3 seed Southeastern University (Florida) on Monday afternoon at the Grizzly Softball Complex – advancing into the winner's bracket of the 2024 NAIA Opening Round Lawrenceville Bracket.

The Grizzlies (30-15) scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to break a scoreless duel between the two teams.

Junior Annalise Jarvis struck out 10 batters in tossing a two-hit shutout inside the pitching circle. The right hander improved her record to 17-5 and had her ninth shutout of the 2024 season.

Jarvis struck out the side in the top of the second inning and opened the game with five strikeouts through the first two innings.

"The team really brought the energy today and I did my part to match that intensity today. The rise ball was working well today and the defense had my back," said Jarvis.

The tournament hosts manufactured three runs in the fourth inning. Freshman Morgan McQuagge laid down a safety squeeze bunt and a throwing error on the play allowed the first two runs to score in the game. Then, junior Makenna Talcott stole second base. A decision by Southeastern to throw to the base allowed McQuagge to score the third run of the frame.

"Going into that at-bat, I knew that I needed to do my part to help the team. I had confidence, but knowing my teammates had confidence in me was really big," said McQuagge.

The third baseman drew a bases-loaded walk one inning later to plate an insurance run.

That was all of the offense Jarvis needed as she only allowed a leadoff double in the third inning and a two-out single in the sixth inning to close out the shutout.

"We're a team that needs to execute the little things. Bunts are a piece of manufacturing runs for us. We're not even in that situation (runners at second and third base with one out) if Haley (Robinson) doesn't execute her bunt," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.

The Grizzlies advance to play the winner of Tuesday's contest between top-seeded Eastern Oregon University and No. 5 seed Spring Arbor University (Michigan) on Wednesday, May 15, beginning at noon.
 
Coach's Corner
"This was a complete team performance, with Annalise being commanding inside the circle and our offense executing well to make things happen (and scoring runs). Winning postseason games is about executing when the opportunities are there. Also, the defense had Annalise's back as well," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  The Grizzlies executed the finer points of offensive play to plate three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Freshman Morgan McQuagge laid down a safety squeeze bunt to score the first of two runs. The play also featured a throwing error. Then, the hosts executed a double steal to score another run in the productive inning.
  Bottom of Fourth
Morgan McQuagge laid down a safety squeeze bunt that brought home the first of two runs on the play; a throwing error allowed an additional run to score
Makenna Talcott successfully stole second base and provided an opportunity for McQuagge to steal home, giving the Grizzlies a 3-0 lead
 
Bottom of Fourth
Morgan McQuagge drew a bases-loaded walk to score an insurance run
 

• The Grizzlies outhit Southeastern by a 5-2 margin
• Junior Annalise Jarvis struck out 10 batters in tossing the shutout
• GGC successfully stole three bases in the victory
• Junior Lindzie Owen tallied two hits Monday for the Grizzlies

• GGC improves to 30-15 in 2024; Southeastern drops to 38-18 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 13 in the final NAIA Top 25 poll of the 2024 regular season; Southeastern stood No. 25 in the poll
• The team is the No. 2 seed in the five-team Lawrenceville Bracket; Southeastern was the No. 3 seed
• GGC is hosting the NAIA Opening Round for the eighth consecutive season

Georgia Gwinnett College advances to the Lawrenceville Opening Round winner's bracket on Wednesday, May 15, at the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at noon. The team will play the winner of Tuesday's game between Eastern Oregon University and Spring Arbor University (Michigan).