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Georgia Gwinnett College Athletics

Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies

2026 CAC Softball

26_SB_CACChamp

Grizzlies Win 2026 CAC Softball Title

Timely hitting, effective pitching and stingy defense paved the way as Georgia Gwinnett College captured the 2026 Continental Athletic Conference Softball Championship with a hard-fought 4-3 victory Friday afternoon against Florida National University at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

The top-seeded Grizzlies (29-22), which are receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 poll, will now represent the conference in the Opening Round of the NAIA national tournament, starting May 11. They will be assigned to play in one of the 10 Opening Round sites. That postseason assignment along with the entire 48-team national championship field will be announced Wednesday, May 6 at 6 p.m.

GGC won its fifth consecutive CAC championship and ninth straight conference title (CAC and Association of Independent Institutions).

"This championship has been one of our team goals throughout the season. It hasn't been easy. That's what makes this title so satisfying for this team and our players. They worked hard and came together to earn this championship, and they really earned it on the field for three straight games," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg,   

A key double by senior second baseman Sara Roussel in the bottom of the fifth inning set the pace for the team third straight conference tournament triumph. It brought home junior right fielder Sophie Sisk to break a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning. Sisk had put herself in scoring position with a triple to right-center field.

Berry pitchingThat's when Georgia Gwinnett turned to senior right-handed pitcher Kailyn Berry to hold the Conquistadors (26-17) at bay for the rest of the game. But it wasn't an easy task as Isabella Silva opened the top of the sixth inning with a double to left field. However, the tournament host's defense came to the rescue, getting three straight ground outs. With Silva perched at third base anxious to score the tying run, a line drive to third base glanced off junior Morgan McQuagge's glove to freshman shortstop Reesie Burch, who proceeded to throw onto senior first baseman Savannah Jenkins for the second out of the inning. Then senior second baseman Sara Roussel scooped up a grounder by the next batter and threw to first base to get out of the frame.

Berry proceeded to get out three straight FNU hitters in the top of the seventh inning to seal the victory. She was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after tossing two complete games in the tournament.

"Believing in ourselves gives us the confidence to go out and meet any challenge that's put in front of us. It feels so good to do something like this together as a team," said Berry. "I wanted to give it everything that I could do to help my teammates win."

Ihlenburg added, "Kailyn has earned everything that she achieved. She pitched so well throughout this tournament. That's what we expect from her. More importantly, that's what Kailyn expects from herself."

GGC enjoyed a 3-0 lead through the first three innings on a sacrifice fly by freshman designated player Molly Kemp and singles by Burch and Jenkins.

However, FNU battled back by scoring three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Alissia Vega had the big hit with a two-run single down the left field line.

Jenkins and Burch each had two hits to lead the Grizzlies' nine-hit offensive attack. Sisk had the key winning run-producing triple and Roussel had a double.

"This team had so much to prove. I'm so proud of everyone and what it took for us to win this championship," said Roussel.