The Georgia Gwinnett College softball team plays its first Continental Athletic Conference opponent of the season by hosting Carolina University (North Carolina) in a doubleheader on Saturday, March 21, at the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at 2 p.m.

It will be a busy weekend for the Grizzlies (12-15), which also hosts Tennessee Wesleyan University on Sunday, March 22, beginning at 2 p.m.

Sophomore Casey Beaver is the reigning CAC Softball Hitter of the Week after tying a single-game program record by collecting five hits in the opening game of last Saturday's road doubleheader against nationally ranked Lindsey Wilson University (Kentucky). The outfielder went a perfect 5-for-5 from the leadoff spot in the batting order during the game.

On the season, Beaver stands second on the Grizzlies with a .420 batting average while having a team-leading 42 hits and 24 runs scored.

Senior Savannah Jenkins is tops on the team with a .435 batting average, 24 runs batted in and 11 doubles. She is tied for the lead with two home runs.

Senior Sara Roussel is hitting at a .355 clip and has nine stolen bases this season. Junior Morgan McQuagge has posted a .339 batting average in 23 starting assignments.

In the pitching circle, senior Kailyn Berry has a 6-4 record, two shutouts and seven compete games. Freshman Tatum Helsom has a staff-best 2.31 earned run average in a team-high 17 appearances. Helsom also tops the team with 34 strikeouts.

Carolina (9-11) leads the CAC with a .320 batting average. The Bruins dropped a doubleheader against NCAA Division II Bluefield State University (West Virginia) on Wednesday. Emma-Lee Cabral paces the team's offense with a .492 batting average, six home runs and 12 doubles. Nathaly Ochoa has scored 25 runs. Pitchers Madison Hamilton and Anni Bergmeier have 4-5 records this spring.

GAME PROGRAM

VIDEO

LIVE STATS
GAME 1 | GAME 2
 
MEET THE COACHES 
Georgia Gwinnett: Kat Ihlenburg is in her 14th season leading the Grizzlies. She has guided the program to a 504-148-2 record, 10 trips to NAIA postseason play, and five World Series appearances.
Carolina: Jay Johnson is in his third season at the helm of the Bruins, posting a 59-49 record. He has guided the program to back-to-back winning seasons.
 
CASEY BEAVER RECOGNIZED
Sophomore Casey Beaver is the reigning Continental Athletic Conference Softball Hitter of the Week following a historic performance in last Saturday's doubleheader against Lindsey Wilson University (Kentucky). The outfielder tied the single-game program record with five hits in the opening game. Beaver batted .750 and scored four runs across the two games.
 
PLAYING FIRST CONFERENCE OPPONENT
Saturday's doubleheader against Carolina will be GGC's first games against a Continental Athletic Conference opponent this season. The Grizzlies are scheduled to return the favor with a doubleheader at Carolina in Winston-Salem on April 8.
 
RECEIVING VOTES IN LATEST NATIONAL POLL
GGC is receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 poll, released by the national office on Wednesday. The NAIA Top 25 poll is conducted by a nationwide panel of coaches.
 
HOME STRETCH AHEAD
The Grizzlies are scheduled to play nine of their next 13 games in Lawrenceville, beginning with this weekend's pair of doubleheaders. GGC faces Cumberland University (Tennessee) at home on March 31 before hosting a three-game series against the University of the Cumberlands (Kentucky) on April 3-4.
 
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
Carolina (9-11) leads the CAC with a .320 batting average. The Bruins dropped a doubleheader against NCAA Division II Bluefield State University (West Virginia) on Wednesday. Emma-Lee Cabral paces the team's offense with a .492 batting average, six home runs and 12 doubles. Nathaly Ochoa has scored 25 runs. Pitchers Madison Hamilton and Anni Bergmeier each have 4-5 records this spring.
 
FOLLOW THE GRIZZLIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA 
GGCAthletics.com will be home for news and information regarding the softball team this winter. Home games are broadcast on the Grizzly Digital Network. Download the GGC App to receive schedule updates. For the most up-to-date news and information, follow GGC Athletics and GGC Baseball through the following social media: X (@GGCAthletics; @GGC_Softball), Facebook (GGCAthletics), and Instagram (@GGCAthletics; @ggc_softball).