Georgia Gwinnett College Athletics

Showing plenty of patience and perseverance, the Georgia Gwinnett College softball team opened play in the 2026 Continental Athletic Conference Championship with a dramatic 4-3 victory against Alice Lloyd College (Kentucky) on Wednesday evening at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The Grizzlies (29-22), the tournament's No. 1 seed, advances to play No. 2 seed Florida National University in Thursday's winner's bracket game, scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. The Conquistadors (25-15) knocked off No. 3 seed Westcliff University (California) 3-2 in 11 innings earlier in the day.

CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

In its own thrilling game, GGC's offense finally broke through after being controlled for the first four innings by Alice Lloyd pitcher Arin Rife, the 2026 CAC Player of the Year, who managed to hold onto a 1-0 first-inning lead.

A fielder's choice play on junior first baseman Savannah Jenkins' smash to third base brought home freshman pinch runner Molly Kemp and junior right fielder Sophie Sisk to give the tournament hosts a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Junior left fielder Kaitlyn Crumley had opened the inning with a double before being replaced on the basepaths by Kemp. Sisk and senior second baseman Sara Roussel followed with back-to-back walks to load the bases for Jenkins' fielder's choice play that scored the team's first two runs of the game.

The Grizzlies then took advantage of a throwing error by the Eagles' defense to score Jenkins and Roussel with two more runs for a 4-1 advantage.

However, Alice Loyd (35-12) came back with a rally of its own, scoring two runs in the top of the sixth inning on Whitney Lippert's two RBI double to right center field. The team then had two baserunners in the top of the seventh inning, with two outs, before GGC senior pitcher Kailyn Berry got Rife to line out to the shortstop to seal the victory.

Berry, a first-team All-CAC pitcher, allowed five hits and had six strikeouts across seven innings to improve her record to 14-5 for the season. Meanwhile, Rife (15-7) was stingy as well, allowing four hits in five innings before being relieved at the start of the sixth frame.

The Grizzlies' five hits were spread evenly throughout the team's lineup, with junior third baseman Morgan McQuagge and senior center fielder Enna Lackey joining Sisk, Roussel and Crumley in each having a hit.
 
Coach's Corner
"I continue to be proud of this team. The work that we do in practice showed up today. Kaitlyn (Crumley) began the fifth inning with a quality at-bat and got into scoring position. Good things happen when you put the ball on the ground. Kailyn (Berry) pitched outstanding considering this was her first postseason appearance since 2023. It is different and it was good for her to experience those emotions," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Turning Point
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, junior left fielder Kaitlyn Crumley opened the frame with a double to left center field. That opened the way for the Grizzlies to take the lead for good as junior right fielder Sophie Sisk and senior second baseman Sara Roussel had back-to-back walks to load the bases, with no outs. Senior first baseman Savannah Jenkins reached on a fielder's choice that allowed freshman pinch runner Molly Kemp and Sisk to score, giving the team a 2-1 lead. Jenkins and Roussel later scored on a defensive error for a 4-1 lead that would stand up against a strong challenge by Alice Lloyd in the top of the sixth and seventh innings.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Top of First
Mckenzie Orfield singled to center field, scoring Mackinzie Newport to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead
 
Bottom of Fifth
Kaitlyn Crumley opened the inning with a double; she was replaced by pinch runner Molly Kemp
Sophie Sisk and Sara Roussel followed with walks, while Molly Kemp advanced to third on a wild pitch, to load the bases.
Savannah Jenkins reached on a fielder's choice play and defensive error that allowed Molly Kemp and Sophie Sisk to score, giving the team a 2-1 lead
The team took advantage of another error, this time a bad throw by the first baseman, to score Savannah Jenkins and Sara Roussel for a 4-1 advantage
 
Top of Sixth
Whitney Lippert doubled to right center field to score Dailey Hicks and Brooke Baker, closing the gap to 4-3
 
Top of Seventh
A walk to Mackinzie Newport and single by McKenzie Orfield gave Alice Lloyd two baserunners, with two outs
Pitcher Kaitlyn Berry struck out Arin Rife with three straight strikes to seal the first-round victory
 
Inside The Numbers

• Both teams had five hits in the game
• GGC took advantage of five walks in the game, with junior right fielder Sophie Sisk and senior second baseman Sara Roussel each having two
• The Grizzlies successfully stole three bases
• Senior pitcher Kailyn Berry struck out six batters to earn her 14th victory of the season

News & Notes

• GGC now stands 27-22 on the season; Alice Lloyd is 35-13 in 2026
• The Grizzlies received votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
• Georgia Gwinnett College now won its last eight CAC tournament games, since losing to USC Beaufort in the championship round of the 2023 tournament
• The team had a 17-9 record at the Grizzly Softball Complex this spring

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play No. 2 seed Florida National University on Thursday, April 30, at 2:30 p.m. in a winner's bracket game of the CAC Championship at the Grizzly Softball Complex.