The Georgia Gwinnett College softball team completed a dominant weekend with its fourth straight shutout, sweeping Tennessee Wesleyan University by 8-0 and 3-0 scores on Sunday afternoon at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies (16-15) outscored the opposition by a 31-0 margin in winning four games. Those four consecutive victories match the team's season-best winning streak.

The hosts started fast in both games, pushing across two runs in the opening frame of each contest. Senior first baseman Savannah Jenkins lined a run-scoring single to center field and then came around to score on a ground out by junior right fielder Sophie Sisk in the opener.

Junior left fielder Kaitlyn Crumley collected an infield RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning before senior second baseman Sara Roussel hit a sacrifice fly to left field that gave GGC a 6-0 advantage.

Jenkins lined a two-run single in the sixth inning to secure the triumph.

In the nightcap, Roussel opened the scoring with an RBI ground out to second base. Junior third baseman Morgan McQuagge successfully stole home to double the team's early advantage.

A throwing error allowed for an unearned run to be added in the third inning.

Freshman pitcher Tatum Helsom struck out seven batters and scattered four hits in the second game to pick up her second straight shutout of the season.

That strong performance in the circle followed a two-hit shutout by senior Kailyn Berry, who improved her record to 8-4 for this spring.

Sophomore center fielder Casey Beaver combined to go 5-for-5 at the plate while stealing five bases and scoring four runs from the leadoff spot in the batting order on Sunday. Beaver tallied three of the team's five hits in the second contest.

Jenkins drove in three runs and collected two hits during the opening game.


 
Coach's Corner
"It was nice to be home and somewhere that we're comfortable. Everyone in the lineup contributed, whether it was a pinch run situation or a walk-off single in the sixth inning. Four shutouts require the defense to do their job, because the pitchers are still putting balls in play. We made the plays behind them. We also did a good job of scoring early in games. That's a testament to our preparation," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Turning Points
The Grizzlies pushed across a pair of runs in the first inning of both games on Sunday. In the opener, senior first baseman Savannah Jenkins hit a run-scoring single to center field before junior right fielder Sophie Sisk hit an RBI ground out. Later, senior second baseman Sara Roussel started the scoring with a ground out to second base. Then, a successful double-steal play once again gave team a 2-0 advantage.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Bottom of First
Savannah Jenkins smashed an RBI single to center field that opened the scoring
Sophie Sisk grounded out to shortstop to bring home Jenkins
 
Bottom of Second
Brooke Rockhold scored following one of the Bulldogs' four defensive errors in the contest, giving GGC a 3-0 lead
 
Bottom of Fourth
Kaitlyn Crumley hit an infield RBI single
Morgan McQuagge reached on a fielder's choice that scored Summer Hickson
Sara Roussel hit a sacrifice fly to left field, extending the Grizzlies' lead to 6-0
 
Bottom of Sixth
Savannah Jenkins tallied a two-run single to center field
 
Second Game
Bottom of First
Sara Roussel hit an RBI ground out to second base
Morgan McQuagge successfully stole home on the back end of a double-steal play
 
Bottom of Third
Sara Roussel scored an unearned run following a throwing error from right field, giving the hosts a 3-0 lead
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies registered 13 hits across Sunday's doubleheader sweep, with eight hits during the opener
• GGC scored two runs in the first inning of both games on Sunday
• Sophomore center fielder Casey Beaver went a combined 5-for-5, stole five bases and scored three runs
• Freshman pitcher Tatum Helsom struck out seven batters in picking up the victory during the nightcap

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 16-15 on the season; Tennessee Wesleyan drops to 5-12 this spring
• The Grizzlies received votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
• Georgia Gwinnett College has won nine of the 10 all-time meetings against the Bulldogs
• GGC outscored the opposition by a 31-0 margin across the four home games this weekend

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to travel to Bryan College on Tuesday, March 24, in Dayton, Tennessee, starting at 2 p.m.