May 23, 2014
Box Score
A first-inning RBI double by Robbie Payne was the only score for the Georgia Gwinnett baseball team in a 2-1 defeat to Oklahoma Wesleyan on Friday in the Grizzlies’ opening game at the 2014 Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.
The pitcher’s duel featured three runs in the first inning, but neither team connected over the final eight frames as the Grizzlies twice had a runner thrown out at the plate in the one-run loss.
The sixth-seeded Grizzlies (52-12), the designated visiting team, totaled just four hits from four different players.
Eagles starter Diego Ibarra (13-1) tossed 8.0 innings and allowed just the lone run with three strikeouts for third-seeded Oklahoma Wesleyan. The Eagles extended the nation's longest winning streak to 29 games.
Georgia Gwinnett pitching, led by starter Tyler Carpenter (8-2), stranded 11 OKWU (56-6) baserunners in the contest and kept the Grizzlies close the entire way.
Jake Fields, Ty Abbott and John Fidanza supplied GGC’s only other hits as the Eagles’ two-run bottom of the first would be enough for the win.
Georgia Gwinnett now plays in Saturday’s noon PT/3 p.m. ET elimination game against seventh-seeded San Diego Christian (Calif.). GGC has won each of its previous seven elimination games between the conference and national tournaments.
“We just didn’t put together the at-bats that we needed today,” said Grizzlies head coach Brad Stromdahl. “We give credit to their starting pitcher and now we simply need to come to play tomorrow as we have a lot of belief in our guys.”
The Grizzlies plated the first run of the game in the first inning, using back-to-back, one-out doubles by Fields and Payne to take a 1-0 lead. After a groundout by Phillip Bates, Fields bounced one down the left field line and Payne followed with a shot to center as GGC took the lead.
In the bottom of the inning, the Eagles put together a string of ground-ball singles to take their 2-1 advantage. Six different OKWU players had base hits- many of which did not leave the infield- but Carpenter picked up a double play and worked out of the first of several jams on the day to limit the damage.
The Grizzlies’ senior right-hander settled in to go 5.1 innings with five strikeouts and just one walk.
Zach Alvord was called out at home attempting to score on a two-out single by Fidanza in the second inning, and Payne was thrown out in a collision at home attempting to score from first base in the sixth inning on a two-double from Abbott.
Georgia Gwinnett reliever Jonathan Spitler entered in the sixth to end another OKWU threat, and Ryan Turner did the same in the eighth to keep the Grizzlies within one.
Bates reached base to begin the sixth inning on a throwing error, but he would be the Grizzlies’ last baserunner as GGC was retired in order over the final three innings.
Pinch hitter Pat Long’s shot into center field in the eighth inning was caught on a diving grab by Eagles center fielder Asa Manship, one of a number of defensive plays that kept GGC from having a chance to tie the game.
Closer CJ Gregory earned the save in the ninth inning in relief of Ibarra, getting Abbott to pop out in foul territory on the third base side to end the game.
The four hits matched a season low for the GGC offense.
