The Georgia Gwinnett College softball team split a doubleheader to conclude its weekend series against St. Thomas University (Florida), winning the opener 7-3 before losing 6-2 on Sunday afternoon at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

Senior first baseman Savannah Jenkins hit a grand slam to give No. 21-ranked GGC (11-12) a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning of the first contest. She hit an RBI double down the right field line to open the scoring for the team in the third inning.

Freshman pitcher Tatum Helsom stranded a pair of opposing baserunners in scoring position in the top of the fifth inning by striking out Mya Achenbach.

GGC began the bottom half of the fifth inning with back-to-back singles from senior left fielder Enna Lackey and sophomore center fielder Casey Beaver. A fielder's choice loaded the bases to set up Jenkins' grand slam to right-center field.

The Bobcats (16-5) broke through with three runs in the top of the sixth inning. Allison Morales hit a two-run double to left-center field to cut GGC's lead to 5-3.

However, the hosts answered with Beaver and junior third baseman Morgan McQuagge hitting consecutive RBI singles in the bottom half of the sixth inning to score insurance runs.

Helsom struck out four batters and allowed three unearned runs in picking up her fourth win of the season.

The Grizzlies tallied 11 hits in Sunday's first contest, with five players each having two hits. Jenkins was one of them while driving in five of the team's seven runs. Lackey went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored in the triumph.

In the series finale, St. Thomas jumped out to a 4-0 lead behind a three-run second inning. Jade Fayad's two-run double to right field capped the early-run production.

Later, Beaver legged out an RBI triple to center field before scoring on an RBI ground out from McQuagge to cut the deficit in half, at 4-2, in the third inning.

St. Thomas regained the four-run advantage by scoring twice in the fifth inning. A passed ball allowed Emma Edwards to score before Mya Achenbach hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

GGC lost four of the six games against No. 12-ranked St. Thomas this season.
 
Coach's Corner
"We continue to learn about ourselves against good competition. I continue to see good things growing for this young team. We're capable of having big hits in big moments. We were able to throw out runners at the plate due to our execution on defense. That was a momentum boost for us and the defense," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Turning Point
The Grizzlies got out of a jam in the top of the fifth inning of the first game while leading 1-0. Freshman pitcher Tatum Helsom recorded a strikeout with opposing baserunners on second and third bases. That action fueled the team's offense to open the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases following back-to-back singles and a fielder's choice play by the St. Thomas defense. Senior first baseman Savannah Jenkins hit her first home run of the season with a grand slam that extended the lead to 5-0.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Bottom of Third
Savannah Jenkins hit a run-scoring double down the right field line to open the scoring
 
Bottom of Fifth
Savannah Jenkins connected on a grand slam to right-center field, giving the Grizzlies a 5-0 lead
 
Bottom of Sixth
Casey Beaver tallied an RBI single to second base
Morgan McQuagge followed with a run-scoring single up the middle to give GGC a 7-3 advantage
 
Second Game
Top of Second
Jade Fayad brought home a pair of runs with a double to right field to give the Bobcats a 4-0 lead
 
Bottom of Third
Casey Beaver legged out a triple that brought home Sadie McGuinn
Morgan McQuagge hit an RBI ground out to cut the early deficit to 4-2
 
Top of Fifth
Mya Achenbach hit a sacrifice fly to right field that once again gave the Bobcats a four-run lead, at 6-2
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies registered 15 hits across Sunday's doubleheader, including 11 hits in the opener
• Senior Savannah Jenkins hit her first home run of the season
• Five GGC players had multiple hits in the first contest
• Freshman pitcher Tatum Helsom did not allow an earned run across 9.2 innings and two appearances on Sunday

News & Notes

• GGC now stands 12-13 on the season; St. Thomas is 16-5 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 21 in the first regular season NAIA Top 25 poll; St. Thomas stood No. 12 in the same poll
• St. Thomas has a 5-4 lead in the series history, including winning two of the three games in the weekend series and four of the six games between the teams this season
• The team has recorded six victories against teams currently featured in the NAIA Top 25 poll

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to travel to No. 25 Lindsey Wilson University on Friday, March 13, in Columbia, Kentucky, starting at 3 p.m.