The Georgia Gwinnett College softball team scored three runs in the fourth inning of both games to sweep a doubleheader against Cumberland University (Tennessee) by 8-1 and 6-0 scores on Tuesday afternoon at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The sweep comes after Cumberland (10-14) took two games last Wednesday in Tennessee.

GGC (20-17) took a 3-1 lead in the opener behind the productive fourth inning. Senior left fielder Enna Lackey hit an infield RBI single that tied the contest, at 1-1. Freshman shortstop Reesie Burch followed with a run-scoring single before sophomore center fielder Casey Beaver successfully stole home on a double-steal attempt.

One inning later, the hosts broke open the contest. Senior second baseman Sara Roussel hit a run-scoring single before stealing home on another successful double-steal play. Freshman catcher Brooke Rockhold gave GGC an 8-1 lead with an RBI double to right field.

In the second game, a fielder's choice with the bases loaded by junior left fielder Kaitlyn Crumley allowed senior first baseman Savannah Jenkins to score, beginning a three-run fourth inning. Burch was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give the Grizzlies a 3-0 lead. She later plated a pair of runs with a double to right-center field in the sixth inning.

Freshman pitcher Tatum Helsom tossed her fifth shutout of the season, limiting the Phoenix (10-14) to four hits and striking out five batters in the second game of the day. Senior Kailyn Berry recorded her team-leading ninth victory of the season with a complete-game triumph in the opener.

Roussel registered two hits in both games on Tuesday. Jenkins went 3-for-4 and scored twice as part of the team's 13-hit offensive attack in the opener. Junior third baseman Morgan McQuagge and Burch also had two hits in that game.


 
Coach's Corner
"I'm happy to have two bounce-back wins. We wanted to move runners and did a good job of doing that today. We were aggressive and also put the ball on the ground. The defense was spectacular with double plays and ricochet plays that required follow-up throws," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Turning Point
The Grizzlies made proper adjustments at the plate to score three runs in the fourth inning of both games. The first rally helped the team overcome a 1-0 deficit in the opener. Senior left fielder Enna Lackey hit an infield RBI single before freshman shortstop Reesie Burch lined a two-run single that gave the hosts the lead. GGC plated three runs in the second game to pull away from the 1-0 advantage.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Bottom of Fourth
Enna Lackey hit an infield RBI single with the bases loaded to tie the contest, at 1-1
Reesie Burch lined a two-run single to right-center field
 
Bottom of Fifth
Casey Beaver successfully stole home on the back end of a double-steal attempt
Sara Roussel hit an RBI single
Brooke Rockhold lined a double to right field that brought home Reesie Burch, extending the lead to 8-1
 
Second Game
Bottom of Second
Sara Roussel scored following a passed ball
 
Bottom of Fourth
Kaitlyn Crumley reached on a fielder's choice as Savannah Jenkins scored with the bases loaded
Reesie Burch was hit by a pitch, giving the Grizzlies a 3-0 lead
 
Bottom of Sixth
Reesie Burch lined a two-run double to right-center field
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies registered 20 hits across Tuesday's doubleheader sweep, with 13 hits coming in the opener
• Senior second baseman Sara Roussel had two hits in both games
• GGC had five steals in the first contest
• Freshman Tatum Helsom tossed her fifth shutout of the season

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 20-17 on the season; Cumberland drops to 10-14 this spring
• The Grizzlies received votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
• Tuesday's sweep gives Georgia Gwinnett College a 7-6-1 lead in the all-time series between the programs
• The team had a 13-7 record during March

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host No. 13 University of the Cumberlands (Kentucky) in a doubleheader on Friday, April 3, at the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at noon.