Georgia Gwinnett College, Westcliff to Play for 2025 CAC Softball Championship

Georgia Gwinnett College and Westcliff University (California) will play for the 2025 Continental Athletic Conference Softball Championship following Friday's tournament action at the Grizzly Softball Complex in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

The tournament host and top seeded Grizzlies advanced to the championship round with a 2-0 victory against No. 3 seed Florida National University. Meanwhile, No. 4 seed Westcliff defeated No. 2 seed Simpson University (California) 3-0 before adding a 4-1 triumph against Florida National in the nightcap.

The championship round is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, with a game starting at 11 a.m.

GGC and Westcliff will be meeting for the second time in this tournament, with the hosts defeating the Warriors by a 7-2 score in Friday's opening game. This time postseason hardware is at stake. Westcliff will need to defeat the Grizzlies twice on Saturday to win the title in its first year as a conference member. Meanwhile, one win gives GGC the tournament title.

Game 3: No. 1 Georgia Gwinnett College 2, No. 3 Florida National University 0

Jane Hoover lined a two-run double down the left field line in the fourth inning as top-seeded Georgia Gwinnett College scored a 2-0 victory that advanced the Grizzlies into the championship round.

Following a two-hour lightning delay, the tournament hosts started fast when play resumed in a scoreless game heading into the bottom of the fourth inning.

The winning rally started with Sophie Sisk and Savannah Jenkins each collecting singles. They advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Makenna Talcott. That set up Hoover's productive at-bat, with a double bringing home both baserunners for a 2-0 advantage.

Meanwhile, Kailynn James was once again strong inside the pitching circle, scattering two hits and striking out five batters. The right hander tossed her seventh shutout of the season and improved her record to 15-3 on the season.

Casey Beaver and Jenkins each tallied two hits for the Grizzlies, which outhit the Conquistadors by an 8-2 margin.

FNU's Brunella Beteta allowed just the two runs and eight hits in the circle for the Conquistadors.

Game 4: No. 4 Westcliff University 3, No. 2 Simpson University 0

Westcliff University won the all-California battle in Friday's second game, defeating Simpson University 3-0 in the ninth meeting between the two programs during the 2025 season.

Simpson (24-21) entered Friday's elimination game with a 6-2 record against the Warriors.

However, Westcliff pitcher Madison Mendez struck out five batters and worked around eight hits to toss the shutout.

The Warriors broke through offensively in the third inning as Bailey Wallace drew a bases-loaded walk before Sara Ellerton's RBI single gave the No. 4-seeded team a 2-0 advantage. Iyari Ramirez added a run-scoring single in the sixth inning to plate a key insurance run.

Alyssa Patlan went 3-for-3 at the plate and Ellerton also collected three hits, while Airilin Ramirez had two hits, to lead the winners' offensive attack.

Brianna Lopez-Cortez paced the Red Hawks by going 3-for-3 at the plate.

Game 5: No. 4 Westcliff University 4, No. 3 Florida National University 1

Westcliff University won its second elimination game of the day, advancing to Saturday's championship round with a 4-1 victory against Florida National University.

Sara Ellerton smashed a two-run home run in the first inning and Madison Mendez tossed her second complete game on Friday.

The right hander scattered five hits inside the circle.

Lauren Coppla extended the Warriors' (23-22) lead to 3-1 in the fourth inning with an infield RBI single. Alyssa Patlan added an RBI ground out to second base later in the frame. Both players tallied two hits in the triumph.

Siana San Vicente went 3-for-3 and scored a run as Westcliff outhit Florida National by an 11-5 margin in the contest.

Florida National (23-27) scored its lone run in the bottom of the second inning on a run-scoring single from Isabella Silva through the right side of the infield. The base hit cut the deficit to 2-1.

The Conquistadors had a scoring opportunity in the seventh inning, loading the bases with two outs and bringing the potential game-winning run to the plate. However, Mendez got a ground ball to second base to end the contest.

McCaffery led FNU with a 2-for-3 hitting performance at the plate.