Consecutive two-out RBI singles in the fifth inning helped lead the No. 1 seed Georgia Gwinnett College softball team capture the 2024 Continental Athletic Conference Softball Championship title on Saturday with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over No. 2 seed Florida National University at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

Sophomore Enna Lackey and senior Kloey Goins provided the clutch base hits as the Grizzlies (29-15) won their seventh straight conference tournament title.

Florida National (23-22) plated an unearned run to take a 1-0 lead in the top half of the fifth inning following a sacrifice fly from Sabrina Castelli.

GGC responded in a big way with two outs in the bottom half of the frame following a two-base throwing error on a batted ball from junior Annalise Jarvis. Facing a two-strike count, Lackey poked a run-scoring single to left field to score freshman pinch runner Sophie Sisk from second base. Lackey would later score the go-ahead run on Goins' single, once again through the left side of the infield.

All three runs scored in the championship game were unearned.

Jarvis once again shined inside the pitching circle, striking out 12 batters and scattering two hits in earning a complete-game victory. The right hander won both of her games, tallying 25 strikeouts and surrendering just three hits. Jarvis also collected two hits during Friday's 5-0 triumph against Florida National.

"It was huge to have the strikeout pitch working. The team has confidence that I'm going to give it my all in the circle for them," said Jarvis, who was named the 2024 CAC Softball Championship Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Goins went 2-for-3 at the plate as the team produced four hits in the victory.

Juniors Jane Hoover and Makenna Talcott joined Goins and Jarvis on the all-tournament team.

Georgia Gwinnett College will now prepare to host the 2024 NAIA Opening Round Lawrenceville Bracket from May 13-16. Teams participating in the tournament will be announced early next week.


 
  "It's a plus to have veteran players to call upon in key moments. Enna played big last year in the postseason and executes when it counts. Kloey is a veteran player and understands that gritty is sometimes better than pretty. You want to be playing your best in May, when everything matters," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
  Both teams capitalized on defensive miscues to score their runs in Saturday's championship round game. The Grizzlies received back-to-back two-out run-scoring singles from sophomore Enna Lackey and senior Kloey Goins in the fifth inning to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 advantage. The rally started when a throwing error allowed the tying run to get into scoring position at second base.
  Top of Fifth
Sabrina Castelli hit a sacrifice fly to right field that opened the scoring
 
Bottom of Fifth
Enna Lackey brought home Sophie Sisk with a single to left field that tied the contest
Kloey Goins followed with an RBI single through the left side of the infield that scored Enna Lackey for the eventual game-winning run
 

• The Grizzlies outhit Florida National by a 4-2 margin
• Junior Annalise Jarvis struck out 12 batters inside the pitching circle
• GGC stranded four base runners in the contest
• Junior Lindzie Owen successfully stole her 38th base of the season

• GGC improves to 29-15 this spring; Florida National drops to 23-22 on the season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 13 in the final NAIA Top 25 poll of the 2024 regular season
• As championship-round finalists, Georgia Gwinnett College and Florida National will represent the CAC in the Opening Round of the NAIA national tournament
• GGC has won seven straight conference tournament titles

Georgia Gwinnett College will host the Opening Round Lawrenceville Bracket of the NAIA national tournament from May 13-16 at the Grizzly Softball Complex. The participating teams will be announced early next week.