A pair of home runs paved the way for the No. 4-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team to collect a 9-7 victory against No. 18 and previously undefeated St. Thomas University in Friday evening's opener of a three-game weekend series in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Freshman Molly Kemp connected on a two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning to give the Grizzlies (7-4) a 6-3 lead. The first collegiate homer came after the Bobcats (8-1) plated three runs with two outs in the third inning.

Freshman Brooke Rockhold opened the scoring for GGC with a sacrifice fly in the first inning.

Senior Summer Hickson followed with a solo homer and sophomore Casey Beaver smashed a run-scoring double with two outs as the visitors built a 3-0 advantage in the second inning.

GGC pushed across three runs in the sixth inning, with two coming home on a single by Kemp.

Five different Grizzlies recorded multiple hits in the game, led by junior Morgan McQuagge going 3-for-4 from the No. 9 spot in the team's batting order. Freshman Reesie Burch collected two hits and scored twice. Kemp drove in four runs and joined Beaver and Hickson with each having two hits.

Senior starting pitcher Kailyn Berry had three strikeouts across four innings to improve to 4-0 inside the circle this spring. Freshman Tatum Helsom allowed one earned run to record her first collegiate save.
 
Coach's Corner
"Everything about Molly's (fourth inning) home run was huge for us. It gave us the energy we needed. We hit the ball really well and got a lot of contributions from throughout the lineup," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Turning Point
GGC had an answer after St. Thomas plated three runs in the bottom of the third inning to pull within one run, at 4-3. Freshman Molly Kemp connected on her first collegiate home run in the top of the fourth inning to give GGC a 6-3 lead. The team never trailed the rest of the way, building a 9-3 advantage in the sixth frame.
 
Key Plays
Top of First
Brooke Rockhold hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Casey Beaver
 
Top of Second
Summer Hickson hit a solo home run, extending GGC's lead to 2-0
Casey Beaver added an RBI double with two outs
 
Top of Third
Summer Hickson had a run-scoring single down the right field line for a 4-0 lead
 
Top of Fourth
Molly Kemp connected on a two-run home run to give the Grizzlies a 6-3 advantage
 
Top of Sixth
Molly Kemp tallied a two-run single to left field
A fielding error allowed GGC's ninth run of the contest to score
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies outhit St. Thomas by a 13-6 margin
• Sophomore Molly Kemp drove in four runs and went 2-for-4 at the plate
• Sophomore Casey Beaver scored twice from the leadoff spot in the lineup
• Five Grizzlies recorded multiple hits in the triumph

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 7-4 on the season; St. Thomas falls to 8-1 in 2026
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 4 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll; St. Thomas stood No. 18 in the same poll
• GGC has won three of the four all-time meetings against St. Thomas
• GGC scored six of its nine runs with two outs

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to conclude the three-game series with a doubleheader against St. Thomas University on Saturday, February 21, in Miami Gardens, Florida, starting at 1 p.m.