The No. 4-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team recaptured its winning ways with two impressive victories on Saturday's second day of the Grizzly Open at the Grizzly Softball Complex.
GGC (4-2) started the day with an 8-0 victory over Huntington University (Indiana) – avenging a 11-5 loss from Friday night – and then scored a 9-2 triumph against Lindsey Wilson University (Kentucky) – the Blue Raiders' first loss of the spring.  

This came a day after the team was outscored 21-7 in suffering its first two losses of the spring.

"Very proud of the resilience we showed after a tough Friday, coming back with a great Saturday. It is a sign of things to come for this team," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg, the only coach in the program's 14-year history.

Those elements bringing a smile to Ihlenburg's face Saturday night were the team's timely hitting, aggressive baserunning, strong defensive play, and clutch pitching.

Freshman Lauren Rockhold collected two hits in both games, scored four runs and had two RBI. Meanwhile, senior Savannah Jenkins brought home six of the team's 17 runs on the day with four hits, including a 3-for-3 performance in the nightcap.

The team complimented its 16-hit offensive attack for the day by stealing six bases and making several key defensive plays throughout the diamond. The team didn't make an error until the later innings of the second game.

And, finally, pitchers Tatum Helsom and Kailyn Berry had complete-game performances. Helsom, a freshman, limited Huntington to three hits across six innings while earning her first collegiate triumph. Berry is now 2-0 for the season after holding the potent Lindsey Wilson offense to two runs and six hits.

A single from Jenkins scored Rockhold and sophomore Casey Beaver to give GGC an early 4-0 lead in the second inning of Saturday's opener. Rockhold later added a double that scored Beaver with another run as the hosts took a 5-0 lead in the fourth frame. A run-scoring ground out by senior Enna Lackey and a defensive error on a ball hit by Beaver provided another run, giving the team a commanding 7-0 edge in the fifth inning,

In the nightcap, Rockhold and Jenkins were once again in the middle of GGC's action. Rockhold scored from third base following a single by freshman Desiree Trudel to break a 2-2 deadlock between the two teams. Jenkins followed with a double to deep center field that brought home Trudel with a run for a 4-2 GGC advantage. Later, Jenkins smashed a double to left center field that scored Lackey and Rockhold for a 9-2 edge for the home team.
 
Turning Point
GGC broke a 2-2 tie in the third inning of the nightcap against a confident Lindsey Wilson team that had won its first three games in the Grizzly Open. Desiree Trudel hit a single up the middle that allowed Lauren Rockhold to score for a 3-2 lead and Savannah Jenkins followed with a double to deep center field, bringing home Trudel for a 4-2 GGC lead.
 
Coach's Corner
"Tatum (Helsom) and Kailyn (Berry) did such a good job of keeping the hitters off balance in their pitching performances today. That is what extends outings for pitchers. As a team, we were much more composed and locked in at the task at hand. That's because of the preparation that they took to the field," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Key Plays
Huntington Game
Bottom of First
Brooke Rockhold's single scored Lauren Rockhold with the first run of the game
 
Bottom of Second
A sacrifice fly to left field by Desiree Trudel brought home Reesie Burch
A single from Savannah Jenkins scored Lauren Rockhold and Casey Beaver, giving GGC a 4-0 lead
 
Bottom of Fourth
A double by Lauren Rockhold scored Casey Beaver with another run as the hosts took a 5-0 lead
 
Bottom of Fifth
Enna Lackey's RBI ground out and a defensive error on a ball hit by Beaver provided another run, increasing the Grizzlies' lead to 7-0
 
Bottom of Sixth
Another defensive error led to pinch runner Molly Kemp scoring the team's last run of the game
 
Lindsey Wilson Game
Top of First
Kaiden Rodgers singled up the middle to score Lindsey Wilson leadoff hitter Nora Epley with a run for an early 1-0 lead
 
Bottom of Second
Kaitlyn Crumley's triple to center field brought home Sara Roussel and Morgan McQuagge to give GGC a 2-1 lead
 
Top of Third
Natalie Wandrie struck a single down the right field line, scoring Nora Epley to tie the game, at 2-2
 
Bottom of Third
Desiree Trudel's single up the middle scored Lauren Rockhold from third base
Savannah Jenkins hit a double to deep center field that brought home Desiree Trudel for a 4-2 GGC lead
 
Bottom of Fourth
GGC took advantage of a throwing error to score Reesie Burch and Kaitlyn Crumley for a 6-2 lead
Lauran Rockhold hit a run-scoring single, bringing in Casey Beaver with another run
Savannah Jenkins smashed a double to left center field to score Enna Lackey and Lauran Rockhold, giving GGC a 9-2 edge
 
Inside The Numbers

• GGC outhit its two Saturday opponents by a 16-9 margin
• The Grizzlies tallied runs over eight of their 12 innings during the two games
• Freshman Lauren Rockhold and senior Savannah Jenkins each collected four hits across Saturday's two games; Jenkins had six RBI
• Freshman Tatum Helsom recorded her first collegiate victory, posting a three-hit shutout against Huntington

News & Notes

• GGC's record is now 4-2 for the season; Huntington is 2-2; and Lindsey Wilson is 3-1
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 4 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll
• GGC has split its two games against Huntington and holds a 16-7 edge over Lindsey Wilson in the all-time series between the programs
• In other Grizzly Open games on Saturday, the University of Rio Grande (Ohio) lost twice, 5-4 to Huntington and 10-2 to Lindsey Wilson

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College will continue its eight-game home stand to start the 2026 season by hosting a doubleheader against Bryan College (Tennessee) on Tuesday, February 17, at the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at 2 p.m.