The No. 21-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team earned a doubleheader sweep at No. 20 University of Mobile (Alabama), winning a pair of two-run games by 2-0 and 3-1 scores on Wednesday afternoon.

The Grizzlies (10-10) got clutch hitting, solid pitching and defensive efforts to win the close contests.

In the first game, sophomore center fielder Casey Beaver broke a scoreless deadlock with a two-run single in the top of the seventh inning. The base hit came with two outs in the frame.

Senior pitcher Kailyn Berry stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the fourth inning and got a ground out to senior second baseman Sara Roussel to leave a Mobile (9-6) base runner at third base during the sixth inning.

Earlier, GGC's defense threw out a base runner at home plate to prevent a run following a base hit in the second inning.

Berry scattered five hits and struck out three batters in tossing her second shutout of the season. She improved to 5-3 inside the circle this spring.

In the nightcap, a defensive miscue by the hosts off Beaver's batted ball with two outs in the second inning allowed junior right fielder Kaitlyn Crumley to plate the game's first run of the game.

Junior third baseman Morgan McQuagge lined an RBI single to left field one inning later to give the visitors a 2-0 advantage.

Then, Roussel came through in the clutch, delivering a two-out RBI double to plate an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning.

Freshman pitcher Tatum Helsom allowed just three hits in picking up her third victory of the season.

McQuagge recorded seven defensive assists from her third baseman position in the opener. Freshman shortstop Reesie Burch had four assists during the nightcap, while Roussel and McQuagge added three assists.

Offensively, Beaver went 3-for-4 and stole three bases in the opener. Sophomore first baseman Bailey Bowen registered two hits in the second contest.
 
Coach's Corner
"Games against Mobile are going to be close and competitive. It is a team that we play a lot, so we are very familiar with each other. The pitchers got productive outs and executed their pitches. The defense played well behind them. Offensively, good things happen when you put the ball in play. Casey (Beaver) has been really strong in that aspect for us and has been very coachable," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Turning Point
Sophomore Casey Beaver came through in the clutch with a two-out base hit to score two runs in the top of the seventh inning, leading to the Grizzlies' opening-game victory. The team also plated its first run of the nightcap when a ball was misplayed by the Mobile defense, with two outs, when Beaver put the ball in play during the second inning.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Bottom of Second
Grizzlies threw out Bethany Dean at home plate trying to score from first base following a GGC error
 
Bottom of Fourth
Kailyn Berry struck out Miah Simmons to strand two runners in scoring position and keep the game scoreless
 
Bottom of Sixth
Kailyn Berry got a ground out to second base that left an opposing base runner at third base for the second consecutive inning
 
Top of Seventh
Casey Beaver delivered a two-run single to left-center field, with two outs, to produce the lone runs of the contest
 
Second Game
Top of Second
A fielding error with two outs allowed Kaitlyn Crumley to score the first run of the contest
 
Top of Third
Morgan McQuagge lined an RBI single to left field that gave GGC a 2-0 lead
 
Top of Seventh
Sara Roussel hit a run-scoring double to bring home Sadie McGuinn with a key insurance run
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies registered 16 hits across Wednesday's doubleheader sweep
• Junior Kaitlyn Crumley went 3-for-4 at the plate
• Junior Morgan McQuagge had 10 assists, including seven in the first contest, from her third base defensive position
• Sophomore Casey Beaver successfully stole three bases during the opener

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 10-10 on the season; Mobile drops to 9-6 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 21 in the first regular season NAIA Top 25 poll, released on Wednesday, March 4; Mobile stood No. 20 in the same poll
• GGC leads the all-time series 13-10 against Mobile, including a 5-4 edge in games played on the Rams' home diamond
• Wednesday's doubleheader begins a stretch of 10 straight games with four teams featured in the NAIA Top 25 poll

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play Saint Xavier University (Illinois), a team receiving votes in the latest national poll, on Thursday, March 5, in Mobile, Alabama, starting at 2 p.m.