Offense Powers Georgia Gwinnett College, Florida National to Opening Day Wins in 2025 CAC Softball Championship
Georgia Gwinnett College and Florida National University relied on balanced offensive attacks to collect victories in Thursday's opening day of the 2025 Continental Athletic Conference Softball Championship Tournament at GGC's Grizzly Softball Complex in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
First, the tournament host and top-seeded Grizzlies picked up a 7-2 victory against No. 4 seed Westcliff University (California). Then, No. 3 seed Florida National used a seven-run fourth inning to rally past No. 2 seed Simpson University (California) by a 10-5 score.
GGC and Florida National will now play a winner's bracket contest on Friday, May 2, beginning at noon. Simpson and Westcliff play an elimination game scheduled for 2:30 p.m. A third game of the day is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. The tournament's championship round is scheduled for Saturday, May 3.
Game 1: No. 1 Georgia Gwinnett College 7, No. 4 Westcliff University 2
Georgia Gwinnett College (41-8) struck early as Makenna Talcott's two-out single through the right side of the infield scored sophomore Sophie Sisk for a 1-0 lead in the opening frame. An inning later, Casey Beaver delivered a two-run triple and then scored on an RBI ground out from Morgan McQuagge for a 4-0 advantage
The strong offense continued with pinch hitter Kayla Good lining a run-scoring single during a two-run fifth inning. Angelica Gallegos legged out a triple to right-center field to extend the Grizzlies' lead to 6-0.
Summer Hickson connected on a pinch hit solo home run during the sixth inning.
That was plenty of run support for pitcher Annalise Jarvis, who struck out nine batters. The 2025 CAC Player and Pitcher of the Year improved her record to 21-2 on the season.
Westcliff (21-22) got on the scoreboard on a pinch hit two-run homer from Anika Romo in the top of the seventh inning. Airilin Ramirez paced the Warriors' five-hit offensive attack by going 2-for-3 at the plate.
Gallegos went 3-for-3 that featured a double and a triple to lead GGC's 12-hit offense attack.
Game 2: No. 3 Florida National University 10, No. 2 Simpson University 5
Florida National University overcome a four-run deficit by scoring seven times in the top of the fourth inning to defeat Simpson University (California) by a 10-5 score to advance into the winner's bracket of the tournament.
Simpson (24-20) plated four runs to break a scoreless deadlock in the bottom of the third inning. Nicolena Holen started the productive inning with an RBI single to center field. Kassandra Soria added an RBI ground out to second base before Brianna Lopez-Cortez brought home a pair of runs with a single to left field.
The Conquistadors (23-25) responded in a big way during the next half inning. Annissa Quinonez began the comeback with a run-scoring double to left field. Madisyn Garduno added a sacrifice fly that trimmed the deficit to 4-2. Alyssa Julien then tied the contest with a single to shortstop. A second run scored during a throw on the play.
Gianna Hall gave FNU the lead, at 5-4, with an RBI double down the left field line. Thanysha Gil followed with a two-run double to cap the big fourth inning.
Florida National added three more runs in the fifth inning with Julien tallying an RBI single to center field. Hall and Gil each added RBI singles as the Conquistadors built a 10-4 lead.
Julien went 5-for-5 on the day.
Pitcher Sophia White limited any threat of a rally by the Red Hawks, getting a key double play in the sixth inning and tossing a scoreless seventh inning. White improved her record to 9-9 for the season.
Lopez-Cortez led Simpson's 10-hit offensive by going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Jessica Heck and Holen each added two hits and Kayley Vaillette scored twice.