The top-seeded Georgia Gwinnett College softball team has advanced to the championship round of the NAIA Opening Round Lawrenceville Bracket with a 3-2 victory against No. 2 seed St. Thomas University (Florida) on Tuesday afternoon at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies are one win away from advancing to the NAIA World Series for the third consecutive season and fifth time in program history.

OPENING ROUND CENTRAL

GGC (45-8; winners of 18 consecutive games) built a 3-0 lead by pushing across three runs in the bottom of the third inning.

Sophomore Sophie Sisk hit a run-scoring single past a diving Alahnis Berrios at second base. The ball rolled into shallow center field, allowing freshman Casey Beaver to score from second base. Junior Savannah Jenkins followed with another RBI single, this one through the left side of the infield, to give the tournament hosts a 2-0 advantage.

Senior Makenna Talcott added a fielder's choice RBI to Berrios at second base. Sisk scored from second base on the play for the team's third run of the contest.

"I've preached all season long that we do what we do by running hard and fighting to get every 60 feet (distance between bases) we can get. That was the difference in the game today – being aggressive for that next 60 feet," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.

St. Thomas (45-7; ranked No. 17 nationally) answered a few innings later with Berrios lining a run-scoring single to right field. A throwing error allowed another Bobcat baserunner to touch home plate, trimming the deficit to one run, at 3-2, in the fifth inning.

The visitors threatened in the sixth inning with Anna Toon advancing into scoring position with two outs. However, GGC senior pitcher Annalise Jarvis struck out Isabella Andujar to strand the potential game-tying run at second base.

"That strikeout was massive. That is a veteran (Jarvis) on the mound knowing the moment and not overplaying it," stated Ihlenburg.

Jarvis recorded nine strikeouts and allowed one earned run in the complete-game pitching performance. The right hander improved to 23-2 on the season after scattering six hits on Tuesday.

Jenkins went 2-for-3 for the second consecutive NAIA postseason game. The top three players in the Grizzlies' lineup each scored a run.

GGC will face the winner of Wednesday's elimination contest between No. 3 seed Evangel University (Missouri) and St. Thomas in the championship round.

 

VIDEO HIGHLIGHT! The Grizzlies scored the first of three runs in the third inning against St. Thomas on this base hit from Sophie Sisk.#ClawsOut | #PumpingOutChampions pic.twitter.com/0KYjCzC6vk

— GGC Softball (@GGC_Softball) May 14, 2025

 
Coach's Corner
"The experience that we have been building all season long and for the last four years with this group of seniors showed up in this game. Even when we had a few things not go our way, we rebounded. Our baserunning was on point today," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Turning Point
After building a 3-0 advantage through the first three innings, the Grizzlies held off a fiesty charge from the No. 2-seeded Bobcats. St. Thomas plated two runs in the top of the fifth and threatened an inning later by having the potential game-tying run at second base. However, senior pitcher Annalise Jarvis got out of the jam by striking out Isabella Andujar to end the frame.
 
Key Plays
Bottom of Third
Sophie Sisk hit a run-scoring single up the middle that brought home Casey Beaver
Savannah Jenkins followed with an RBI single, extending the lead to 2-0
Makenna Talcott added an RBI fielder's choice to cap a three-run frame
 
Top of Fifth
Alahnis Berrios lined a run-scoring single to right field
A throwing error by the Grizzlies allowed another run to score and trimming the lead to one run
 
Top of Sixth
Annalise Jarvis recorded a strikeout for the third out that stranded the potential game-tying run at second base
 
Inside The Numbers

• St. Thomas outhit the Grizzlies by a 6-5 margin
• Senior pitcher Annalise Jarvis struck out nine batters in collecting her 23rd win of the season
• Junior Savannah Jenkins went 2-for-3 at the plate in Tuesday's victory
• GGC was successful on two stolen base attempts

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 45-8 this spring; St. Thomas drops to 45-7 on the season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 6 in the final regular season NAIA Top 25 poll; St. Thomas stood No. 17 in the same poll
• The team was the top seed in the five-team Lawrenceville Bracket; St. Thomas was the No. 2 seed
• Tuesday's meeting was the first between the two programs since GGC's inaugural season in 2013

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College has advanced to the championship round of the NAIA Opening Round Lawrenceville Bracket on Wednesday, May 14, at the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at 2:30 p.m. The opponent will be determined by a game earlier in the day.