Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

LAWRENCEVILLE - Jake Wright was 0-for-4 when he walked to the plate in the bottom of the eighth on Saturday evening, and Talladega seemed to like its chances against the junior outfielder, intentionally walking the bases loaded to try to induce an inning ending double play. Those plans went out the window just moments later when Wright laced a single up the middle to bring home a pair of runs as the Georgia Gwinnett baseball team picked up a 7-5 win to take the series vs. the visiting Tornadoes at Grizzly Baseball Stadium.

"It kind of got me fired up to come up in that situation, and I was just happy to be able to drive it up the middle and get those runs in," Wright said. "I think we needed a win like this to get us fired up so we can head into the next series with a little momentum. Talladega came out and played us tough, and we had to step it up."

The sixth-ranked Grizzlies dropped the day's early game, losing 11-4, and the evening win brought GGC to 4-2 on the year with a pair of series victories. Talladega, who was receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll, fell to 2-4.

Wright was far from the only Grizzly who provided some late game heroics, as William Paschal led off the deciding eighth frame with a single to left, and Ernesto Vazquez earned a walk to get the rally started. Arsenio Watlington laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners in scoring position, which set the stage for Wright as TC pitcher Joe Lamoureux issued an intentional walk to load the bases.

Later in the frame, Jereid Woods drew a bases-loaded walk to provide an insurance run heading into the top of the ninth.

"Jake did a good job and made sure to put the ball in play, and that's exactly what we want with a runner on third with one out," GGC Head Coach Brad Stromdahl said. "Fortunately it went up the middle, and it was a huge hit for us. He did a great job doing what he was supposed to do in that situation."

Christian Turnipseed, who came into the game in the seventh inning, closed the door in the ninth, striking out two hitters to lock up the victory.

"We were down by one run when I came in, and we just had to up our intensity," Turnipseed said. "That really helped us completely change the game. I was sitting down on the bench when Jake got that hit, and it got me fired up and I hopped over the railing to meet everybody scoring. My mindset after that was to shut it down like a closer, and I'm comfortable in that role."

Turnipseed ended the night allowing one hit over three frames with three strikeouts, securing his first career win with the Grizzlies.

"Christian was the reason we won," Stromdahl said. "Jake's hit was the one that put the runs on the board, but the reason we won was because Christian was able to put up zeroes for three straight innings. That's the most important part. We can do what we need to do offensively, but if we don't put up zeroes, it's hard to win. He shut the door for us, and he did a great job."

The game appeared like it could be heading in GGC's direction early on as the Grizzlies pushed four runs across in the opening two innings. Michael Hodorowski doubled in a run in the opening frame. A leadoff double from Woods in the second set in motion a three-score inning, with Brian Jacobs and Hodorowski each notching a run batted in and a TC error accounting for another.

Hodorowski ended the game 2-for-3 with a pair of walks, and Woods was 1-for-4 with a walk. Vazquez also enjoyed a nice offensive outing, going 1-for-1 with three walks and two scores.

Sheldon Connor was handed the start on the day, going five innings and giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out two.

For TC, Miguel Fontanez held the Grizzlies at bay after the first four innings, and he finished with four runs allowed (two earned) on six hits and six walks, striking out eight. Three Tornado players had multiple hits in the game as the visitors from Alabama out-hit GGC 10-8.

In the early game, GGC committed nine errors and allowed 11 hits as the Grizzlies lost 11-4. After going down 3-0 early, the Grizzlies would cut the lead to 3-2 and 5-3 before a two-run sixth and four-run eighth inning proved to be too much to overcome.

Jeremy Holcomb was credited with the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks over four innings, and TC starter Tim Lamoureux tossed a complete game, striking out nine and giving up just one earned run on seven hits.

The Green and Gray will return to action next weekend as they continue their 20-game homestand with Lindenwood-Belleville at Grizzly Baseball Complex.

NOTES: GGC has never lost a three- or four-game series played at Grizzly Baseball Complex ... Alex Roberts moved to second all-time in strikeouts with 100 for his career, and with two strikeouts on Saturday, Sheldon Connor moved within two of him with 98 for his career ... Former Grizzly Tyler Carpenter owns the school record with 169 ... The Grizzlies carry a 53-17 all-time mark at Grizzly Baseball Complex ... GGC is now 2-4 all-time vs. the state of Alabama, losing all three meetings with Faulkner ... The Grizzlies have a 24-7 all-time record in the month of February ... Talladega is just the second GCAC member that the Grizzlies have ever played ... Previously, GGC played eight games against Voorhees (S.C.), and each game was shortened as the Green and Gray out-scored the Panthers 118-17 ... The Grizzlies will play another GCAC opponent, Tougaloo (Miss.), later this season.

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