The Georgia Gwinnett College softball team won two of the three games in this weekend's home series against Thomas University (Georgia), splitting a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at the Grizzly Softball Complex. The Grizzlies won the opener 8-0 before dropping the finale 18-8.

GGC (26-22) concluded the regular season by celebrating local military personnel with special pregame festivities that featured Georgia Gwinnett College ROTC cadets presenting the colors and military veterans joining players from both teams on the field before the game.

Senior starting pitcher Kailyn Berry was dazzling in the circle during the first game of the day. She scattered four hits and recorded six strikeouts in tossing the shutout. Berry won both games of the team's weekend victories to improve to 13-5 inside the circle this season.

Offensively, the Grizzlies took a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning following a two-run single from senior first baseman Savannah Jenkins. She later connected on a towering two-run home run to left field in the third inning that gave the hosts a 4-0 advantage.

Sophomore third baseman Morgan McQuagge added a run-scoring single one inning later before coming around to score on an RBI double from junior right fielder Sophie Sisk later in the frame. Sisk also had a sacrifice fly during the sixth inning.

In the second game, GGC used a four-run first inning to take an early 4-2 lead. Junior left fielder Kaitlyn Crumley gave the team a 3-2 advantage with a run-scoring single through the left side of the infield. Then, a bases-loaded walk to freshman shortstop Reesie Burch capped the early run production.

Thomas (18-30) scored 16 runs across the final three innings to win the regular-season finale. The visitors took the lead for good with six runs scoring in top of the fifth inning. Alexis Adams lined a two-run double to left-center field before Baileigh Herrera hit a run-scoring single to give Thomas an 8-4 lead.

GGC chipped away at the deficit as senior center fielder Enna Lackey hit an RBI single in the bottom half of the frame.

Another rally by the hosts came after Thomas added five more runs to build an eight-run advantage in the sixth inning. Senior second baseman Sara Roussel hit a run-scoring single up the middle before Sisk lined a triple to score two runs. That brought the hosts within five runs, at 13-8.

However, the visitors plated five more runs in the seventh inning to cap a contest that featured 28 combined hits.

Roussel combined to go 5-for-8 and scored four times across Saturday's doubleheader. Crumley tallied three hits in the second game and McQuagge recorded multiple hits across both contests.
 
Coach's Corner
"There are a lot of positives to take away from this series. We got a lot of big hits and contributions when we had scoring opportunities. We also always fought back in the games," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Turning Point
The Grizzlies won Saturday's opener with consistent offense. Senior first baseman Savannah Jenkins lined a two-run single to center field during the first inning. She later connected on a two-run home run in the third inning as the team's lead grew to 4-0.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Bottom of First
Savannah Jenkins opened the scoring with a two-run single to center field
 
Bottom of Third
Savannah Jenkins connected on a two-run home run, extending the lead to 4-0
 
Bottom of Fourth
Morgan McQuagge hit an infield RBI single
Sophie Sisk had a run-scoring double for the team's seventh run of the game
 
Bottom of Sixth
Sophie Sisk hit a sacrifice fly to right field that brought home Sara Roussel
 
Second Game
Bottom of First
Sophie Sisk lined an RBI single through the left side of the infield
Sara Roussell successfully stole home, tying the game at 2-2
Kaitlyn Crumley followed with a run-scoring single
Reesie Burch drew a bases-loaded walk to cap the four-run frame
 
Top of Fifth
Alexis Adams hit a two-run double to left-center field, giving Thomas a 7-4 lead
Baileigh Herrera added an RBI single
 
Bottom of Fifth
Enna Lackey lined a run-scoring single to shortstop
 
Bottom of Sixth
Sara Roussel tallied an RBI single
Sophie Sisk legged out to a triple to score two runs, trimming the deficit to 13-8
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies registered 25 hits across Saturday's doubleheader split
• Senior second baseman Sara Roussel went 5-for-8 and scored four runs
• GGC successfully stole nine bases across the two games
• Senior pitcher Kailyn Berry struck out six batters in tossing a shutout during the opener

News & Notes

• GGC now stands 26-22 on the season; Thomas is 18-30 in 2026
• The Grizzlies received votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
• Georgia Gwinnett College now leads the all-time series against Thomas by a 17-11 margin
• Georgia Gwinnett College's Office of Athletics honored military personnel in pregame festivities on Military Appreciation Day

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host the 2026 Continental Athletic Conference Softball Championship, facing the winner of the game between No. 4 seed Alice Lloyd College (Kentucky) and No. 5 Carolina University (North Carolina). The Grizzlies' first game of the tournament will be on Wednesday, April 29, starting at 5 p.m. at the Grizzly Softball Complex.