The Georgia Gwinnett College softball team is once again headed to the NAIA World Series after freshman Morgan McQuagge delivered a dramatic walk-off single with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning that scored the lone run in a 1-0 victory against Eastern Oregon University in the championship game of the Opening Round's Lawrenceville Bracket on Thursday afternoon at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

McQuagge's clutch single marked the team's only hit of the contest.

Junior Lindzie Owen opened the final frame by drawing the third walk of the game issued by EOU's left-handed pitcher Kaylie Hoskins. Classmate Haley Robinson then advanced Owen into scoring position at second base with a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt play.

Owen got even closer to scoring as the speedy designated player swiped her 40th stolen base of the season (out of 40 attempts) to get to third base – 60 feet from plating the winning run of the contest.

"That's for sure the most important stolen base I've ever recorded," said Owen. "Getting the call from Coach Kat (Ihlenburg) to steal third base instilled a ton of confidence in me, knowing that she trusted me to get to third base in that situation."

McQuagge battled Hoskins by fouling off several pitches with two strikes in the count. The Marietta, Georgia, native then struck a high chopper up the middle that plated Owen for the decisive run.

"This season has been a roller coaster for us. I'm so excited to be going back to the World Series (for the second straight year)," said McQuagge. "I stepped into the (batter's) box knowing that with Lindzie's speed, she could steal third and then all I needed to do was put the ball into play to win us this game."

Meanwhile, GGC junior Annalise Jarvis was once again masterful inside the pitching circle. The 2023 NAIA Pitcher of the Year tossed her third straight shutout of the Lawrenceville Bracket by scattering six hits and striking out five Mountaineers. No opposing player has reached third base against her in the last two postseason games. She now has posted 11 shutouts this season and improved her record to 19-5 for the season.

"It's the best feeling in the world (about going to the NAIA World Series). This team, this place, this time, and this day. I'm so thankful to be on this team. This team had a different journey this year (compared to 2023), but right now we are peaking when it matters the most," said Jarvis.

Georgia Gwinnett College outscored its three opponents by a 7-0 margin to sweep its way through the Opening Round tournament.

The Grizzlies have advanced to the World Series in 2024, 2023, 2019 and 2018.


  "I have never been a part of such a gutsy performance like this one. Seeing the seventh inning unfold like it did is a dream come true. Lindzie's steal of third base was all guts and Annalise wants to compete against the best and play in games like this. We've definitely found our rhythm at the right time of the year," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  Freshman Morgan McQuagge observed the 2023 NAIA World Series in street clothes. This year, the third baseman and Continental Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year provided the lone hit – a walk-off RBI single with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning – that sent the Grizzlies to the 2024 World Series, upcoming in Columbus, Georgia.
  Top of Fifth
Catcher Angelica Gallegos threw out Eastern Oregon baserunner Haley Tyree as she attempted to steal second base and prevent the scoring threat
 
Bottom of Seventh
Lindzie Owen successfully stole third base with one out
Morgan McQuagge hit a walk-off run-scoring single up the middle that brought home Lindzie Owen with the game's lone run


 

• Junior Annalise Jarvis recorded five strikeouts in tossing her 11th shutout of the season
• Eastern Oregon outhit the Grizzlies by a 6-1 margin
• GGC successfully stole three bases, led by freshman Morgan McQuagge with two steals
• Junior catcher Angelica Gallegos threw out her seventh base runner on Thursday

• GGC improves to 32-15 this spring; Eastern Oregon ends the season with a 39-10 in 2024
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 13 in the final NAIA Top 25 poll of the 2024 regular season; Eastern Oregon stood No. 10 in the same poll
• The team was the No. 2 seed in the five-team Lawrenceville Bracket; Eastern Oregon was the No. 1 seed
• GGC advances to the NAIA World Series for the fourth time in program history, and second straight season

Georgia Gwinnett College advances to the NAIA World Series in Columbus, Georgia, with play scheduled to begin on Thursday, May 23.