Feb. 26, 2014
GGC 13, Toccoa Falls 3
Georgia Gwinnett (14-3) won its eighth game in a row and the 10th in the team’s last 11 outings with a 13-3 victory over Toccoa Falls (5-6) Wednesday night at the Grizzly Baseball Complex in Lawrenceville.
The Grizzlies scored multiple runs in each of the first four innings, plus the final two. GGC took full advantage of seven errors by the Toccoa Falls defense.
Four Grizzlies had multiple hits to lead a fourteen-hit barrage, including Christian Van Camp with a three-hit effort. GGC also stole nine bases during the game, with three of the swipes coming from Van Camp, who also tossed the game’s final inning.
Starting pitcher Sheldon Connor (2-0) threw five innings, only allowing two runs in the first inning, and struck out six batters. Tyler Oglesby and Andy Threat both recorded an inning of scoreless relief.
After Toccoa Falls scored twice to take a quick lead, the Grizzlies answered with two runs in their half of the first to tie the score.
Phillip Bates started the frame with a single and Antonio Allen followed with a walk. Bates came around to score after a wild pitch and a throwing error by the Eagles’ catcher. Allen came home on a sacrifice fly by Robbie Payne.
Two errors by the Eagles with two outs in the second inning resulted in a pair of runs for GGC. Van Camp scored on a throwing error by the pitcher after singling and stealing second and third base, successively. A fielding error by the first baseman then allowed Zach Alvord to score.
John Fidanza and Van Camp each supplied run-scoring singles for the Grizzlies in the third inning.
After Jake Fields hit an RBI single to score Jereid Woods in the fourth, Sloan Strickland ripped a triple over the head of the center fielder. Strickland then scored when the Eagle left fielder dropped a fly ball.
The Eagles scored another run in the top of the eighth, before the Grizzlies finished the game by run rule with two runs in the bottom of the inning on a two-run double by William Paschal.
Georgia Gwinnett hosts USC Beaufort for a three-game series this weekend, starting with a single game Friday evening at 7 p.m. as GGC partners with Gwinnett Medical Center to Strike Out Heart Disease.
The series finishes with a Saturday doubleheader at noon.
