Posted: May 01, 2026

Georgia Gwinnett Wins CAC Softball Championship with One-Run Victory

Timely hitting, effective pitching and stingy defense came together to pave 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 in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

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, (on PlayNAIA YouTube channel at 6 p.m. Eastern time).

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

A key double by Sara Roussel in the bottom of the fifth inning paved the way for the team's latest victory. It brought home 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.

That's when Georgia Gwinnett turned to pitcher Kailyn Berry to hold the Conquistadors at bay for the rest of the game. But it wasn't an easy task as left fielder 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 Morgan McQuagge's glove to shortstop Reesie Burch, who proceeded to throw onto first baseman Savannah Jenkins for the second out of the inning. Then second baseman Sara Roussel scooped up a grounder 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.

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

However, FNU (26-17) 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.

FNU's offense was spread across solo hits from Carollann McClelland, Elizabeth Owens, Vega, and Silva.

Here is a recap of Friday's other game:

No. 2 Florida National University 2, No. 3 Westcliff University 0

Two runs scored in the bottom of the third inning were the deciding factor as the Conquistadors advanced to the tournament's championship round.

A triple to center field by right fielder Alisha Lanyon brought home the first run of the game, and she later scored on a two-out single from first baseman Carollann McClelland.

Meanwhile, right-handed pitcher Brunella Beteta kept Westcliff (21-23) off the scoreboard for all seven innings, allowing just singles in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings. She improved her record in the circle to 12-9 for the season.

The Warriors' only offensive threat came when second baseman Emma Avelar led off the top of the fourth inning with a single and advanced to third base with one out. However, Beteta induced a flyout and groundout from the next two hitters to keep the shutout intact.

Third baseman Gianna Hall had two of FNU's six hits.

Two of Westcliff's three hits came off the bat of catcher Sara Ellerton.