The No. 21-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College softball team concluded its 14-game road swing across three different states by splitting a doubleheader on Thursday against Saint Xavier University (Illinois), winning the opener 2-1 before falling 7-2 in games played on a neutral diamond at the University of Mobile (Alabama).

In the first game of the day, the Grizzlies (11-11) plated two runs in the bottom of the third inning to overcome a first-inning run by Saint Xavier (8-6), which received votes in the regular season's first NAIA national poll.

Senior Sara Roussel hit a run-scoring single to left field that brought home sophomore Casey Beaver to tie the contest, at 1-1. Junior Morgan McQuagge followed with an RBI single to center field to give GGC the one-run advantage that would stand up against for the victory.

Senior pitcher Kailyn Berry scattered three hits in the complete-game victory. The right hander got a strikeout before fielding a ground ball with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning to secure the victory.

In the nightcap, Beaver scored in the bottom of the first inning following a base hit by Roussel.

Saint Xavier turned the tables behind a six-run fifth inning.

Junior Kaitlyn Crumley scored GGC's second run of the game after collecting a single in the seventh inning.

GGC tallied 12 hits across the doubleheader, highlighted by having seven hits during the first-game victory. Beaver registered two hits in both contests.
 
Turning Point
Senior Kailyn Berry secured the first-game one-run triumph in the top of the seventh inning by getting the 21st and final out on a strikeout and then a ground out back to the pitching circle after Saint Xavier had threatened to tie the game by loading the bases with two outs.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Bottom of Third
Sara Roussel hit an RBI single to left field to tie the contest at 1-1
Morgan McQuagge followed with a run-scoring single to center field
 
Top of Seventh
Kailyn Berry got a strikeout and ground out in a bases-loaded situation to secure the one-run triumph
 
Second Game
Bottom of First
Sara Roussel hit a run-scoring single to bring home Casey Beaver and open the scoring
 
Top of Fifth
Two defensive errors by the Grizzlies allowed multiple runs to score and gave Saint Xavier the lead
Natalie Johnson collected an RBI single to cap a six-run frame
 
Bottom of Seventh
A fielding error allowed Kaitlyn Crumley to score GGC's second run of the game
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies tallied 12 hits across Thursday's doubleheader
• Sophomore Casey Beaver had four hits, including two hits in both games
• GGC turned a double play in the first contest
• Senior Kailyn Berry scattered three hits in picking up her sixth win of the season

News & Notes

• GGC now stands 11-11 in 2026; Saint Xavier is 8-6 on the season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 21 in the first regular season NAIA Top 25 poll, released on Wednesday, March 4; Saint Xavier received votes in the same poll
• Saint Xavier has a 7-6 lead in the series history, including a 2-2 mark in games played in Mobile, Alabama
• The team won three of its four games during the Mobile portion of the 14-game road swing

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host No. 12 St. Thomas University (Florida) in a pair of Senior Day games on Saturday, March 7, at the Grizzly Softball Complex, starting at 2 p.m.