March 27, 2013

GGC 9, TFC 2

TFC 6, GGC 2

The Georgia Gwinnett baseball team took a 9-2 win before falling 6-2 in game two to the NCCAA’s top-ranked squad, Toccoa Falls College on Wednesday afternoon at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

Freshman Frank Warren pitched GGC (21-9) to the win in the opener by striking out four and scattering five hits over seven innings.

Junior Robbie Payne extended an 18-game hitting streak on the day with a pair of singles, breaking up Justin Key’s no-hit bid in the final inning of game two.

Billy Best and A.J. Davis each had two RBIs against the Eagles (18-8).

“Frank was outstanding four us in game one and we just have to tip a hat to their pitcher for his performance in game two,” said Grizzlies head coach Brad Stromdahl.

Warren earned his third victory of the year in game one as GGC scored twice in the first and then added seven runs in the fifth inning. TFC managed one score in the fifth and sixth.

Eight different Grizzlies scored in the game, led by Antonio Allen’s two runs.

The Grizzly bats went cold in game two, totaling GGC’s lowest number of hits this season.  The Eagles scored two runs each in the third, fifth and sixth innings.

Key held the Grizzlies hitless into the seventh, when Allen walked and Payne’s single up the middle put two aboard. Down 6-0, the Grizzlies finally got on the board. After both runners advanced on a failed pickoff, A.J. Davis belted a two-run single.

The Grizzlies failed to draw any further, dropping to 11-3 at home on the season.

Payne’s 39 hits and 31 RBIs lead the Grizzlies this season.

Georgia Gwinnett stays busy with a single game at Emmanuel College Thursday at 5 p.m. before hosting EC Friday in Lawrenceville in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.