The No. 8-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team got back to its winning ways with a doubleheader sweep at Continental Athletic Conference opponent Spartanburg Methodist College by 4-1 and 8-0 scores on Saturday afternoon in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

GGC (29-8) relied on productive middle innings offensively to collect the two wins.

In the opener, senior Jane Hoover hit a sacrifice fly to open a two-run third inning and junior Summer Hickson followed with a run-scoring double.

One inning later, junior Sara Roussel tallied a ground out that brought in another run before a passed ball allowed freshman Casey Beaver gave the visitors a 4-0 advantage.

Senior pitcher Kailynn James scattered eight hits and struck out six batters in the complete-game victory. She improved her record to 10-3 on the season.

In the second contest, senior Kayla Good brought home a pair of runs with a single in the fifth inning as GGC opened a 3-0 lead. It was her second RBI of the game after having a sacrifice fly in the third inning scored the game's initial run.

Senior Angelica Gallegos connected on a two-run home run – her third career homer – in the sixth inning. Sophomore Morgan McQuagge hit a two-run double to plate the team's eighth run of the contest.

Senior Annalise Jarvis struck out 10 batters and allowed just three hits in the six-inning shutout to pick up her 14th win inside the pitching circle.

Offensively, Gallegos went 3-for-6, with three runs scored and a pair of RBI, across the doubleheader sweep. Senior Makenna Talcott registered two hits in Saturday's first game, while Beaver and Roussel each tallied two hits and scored a pair of runs from the top of the batting order in the second game. McQuagge went 2-for-4, with two RBI, in the 8-0 triumph.
 
Coach's Corner
"Annalise and Kailynn pitched great games to keep us in it defensively. Our offense really clicked and moved runners when we got people on base. It was nice to be able to do some of the things we do really well and come away with two road wins," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Turning Point
The middle innings were a difference-maker for the Grizzlies in sweeping the road doubleheader. The visitors plated two runs across in the third and fourth innings of the opener. Then, senior Kayla Good delivered a single to score a pair of runs that gave GGC a 3-0 advantage in the fifth inning of the nightcap.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Top of Third
Jane Hoover hit a sacrifice fly that brought home Makenna Talcott
Summer Hickson added an RBI double to give the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead
 
Top of Fourth
Sara Roussel hit an RBI ground out to second base
Casey Beaver scored following a passed ball, extending GGC's lead to 4-0
 
Second Game
Top of Third
Kayla Good hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Angelica Gallegos
 
Top of Fifth
Kayla Good brought home a pair of runs with a single as the Grizzlies built a 3-0 advantage
 
Top of Sixth
Angelica Gallegos connected on a two-run home run to left field
Makenna Talcott hit a two-run double to plate the team's eighth run of the contest
 
Inside The Numbers

• GGC tallied 17 hits across Saturday's doubleheader sweep, highlighted by 10 hits in the second contest
• Senior pitcher Kailynn James recorded her 10th victory of the season
• The Grizzlies had five stolen bases in the second game; they had seven across the doubleheader
• Senior Angelica Gallegos hit her third career home run and first of the 2025 season during the second game

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 29-8 this spring; Spartanburg Methodist drops to 20-15 in 2025
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 8 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
• Georgia Gwinnett College won the four regular-season meetings against the Pioneers this season
• GGC and Spartanburg Methodist are members of the Continental Athletic Conference

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College now prepares for its west coast trip, starting Tuesday, April 8, with a doubleheader against No. 18 Hope International University in Fullerton, California, starting at 3 p.m.