The eighth-ranked Georgia Gwinnett baseball team collected its third series victory in a row this evening, defeating Williams Baptist (Ark.) in the opening doubleheader of its three game set against the Eagles. GGC defeated Williams Baptist 12-9 in game one and followed up with a 14-6 victory in the night cap.
In game one, the Grizzlies (8-0) jumped on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second inning when first baseman Brady Hamilton laced a double to the left field fence, scoring Josh Merrigan and William Paschal. Previously, Merrigan reached on a double to the right-center gap while Paschal walked.
Williams Baptist (3-4) cut the Grizzlies lead to 2-1 in the top of the third on a double by Eric Kent, but Georgia Gwinnett regained the 3-1 edge in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly to deep center by Brady Shoppe.
The Eagles scored their second run of the game in the top of the fourth when third baseman Tyler Eudy lifted a triple to the right-center field gap, scoring Braxton Rhodes. Earlier in the inning, Rhodes reached on a single.
Once again, Georgia Gwinnett responded to the Eagles' offensive output by regaining the two-run, 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Hamilton led the inning off with a walk, stole second base, and then scored on a single by Trumon Jefferson.
GGC had an offensive explosion in the bottom of the sixth where the Grizzlies scored eight runs on a two-out rally. Hamilton reached on a walk and then moved to second base on a fielder's choice by Jereid Woods that forced GGC third baseman William Paschal out at third. With one out in the inning, Jefferson was hit by a pitch to load the bases for the Grizzlies. Trevor Bradley stepped in and hit a two-run double down the right field line to give the Grizzlies the 6-2 advantage. Pinch hitter Kyler Timmerman, who came in defensively in right field for the remainder of the contest, continued the hitting action with a single to left. The two-RBI hit scored both Jefferson and Bradley.
The offensive assault continued with two outs in the inning when pinch hitter Marcus McCorkle lifted a bloop single to shallow right. McCorkle then stole second base and later scored on a single by center fielder Josh Merrigan. Timmerman also scored on Merrigan's hit. The seventh run of the inning came on a RBI-double by Paschal. The Grizzlies closed out the run-filled inning with the 12-2 lead.
Down to their last nine outs of the game, Williams Baptist began a rally attempt where they pulled within three runs, 12-9, but fell short in the loss. In the seventh, the Eagles scored their third run of the contest on a stand up triple by shortstop Pedro Lopez. WBC would plate three runs in both the eighth and ninth, but came up short in their rally as the Grizzlies captured the opening contest of the three game set.
GGC's Adam Clark (1-0) was credited with the win, striking out two batters and only surrendering two earned runs on four hits in his six innings of work. William Baptist's Ethan Quarles (0-2) received the loss.
As a replication of game one's start, Georgia Gwinnett scored first in the opening frame of game two. Jefferson led the inning off with a single to left, moved to third on a single by Merrigan, and then scored on an erred pick-off attempt by WBC's starting pitcher Michael Ludwig.
The Green and Gray posted a five spot in the second inning off one hit, one error, and three walks. The most notable hit of the inning came off Bradley's bat as he lifted a three-run double to the right-center field gap. The Grizzlies pushed two more runs across the plate in the bottom of the third, ending Ludwig's day for WBC.
The Eagles broke their scoring draught in the top of the fourth as they plated two runs to cut the Grizzly lead to 8-2. Center Ryan Shelton led the inning off reaching on a misplayed fly ball to center. GGC's starter Will Solomon recorded a strikeout against designated hitter Eric Kent, but a passed ball allowed Kent to reach first. A chopper back to the mound by Rhodes and a sacrifice fly by Nick Scott scored Shelton from third. After Solomon conceded consecutive walks to load the bases, the Eagles took advantage of the opportunity and scored their second run of the game on a single by Shae Mnichowski.
Reliever JP Ziegler, who came on in relief for the Eagles in the bottom of the third, surrendered an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth to increase the Grizzly advantage to 9-2. After Zac Rinehart reached on a single up the middle, pinch runner Jabari Gayle stole both second and third base and then scored on a wild pitch by Ziegler.
Williams Baptist sprouted a rally in the top of seventh, scoring four runs to cut GGC's lead to 9-6. Mnichowski led the inning off with a double down the third base line. The Eagles gained two baserunners when Pedro Lopez reached on a walk. Next, Tucker Smith pushed a single to left, advancing the runners 90 feet. On the first pitch from GGC reliever Austin Smith, Shelton crushed a three-run double down the left field line. Kent helped WBC continue the rally when he sliced a chopper to GGC's Bradley who misplayed the ball, allowing Shelton to score the Eagles' final run of the contest.
As seen in previous innings of the contest, the Grizzlies once again powered back on offense and drove in two runs in the bottom of the seventh. While the first run was scored on a sacrifice fly by Bradley, the final run of the inning was scored on a double steal.
Georgia Gwinnett would pad its lead in the bottom of the eighth, scoring three insurance runs for the 14-6 lead. Smith shut the Eagles down in the top of the ninth to finish the win. GGC's Solomon received the win while Ludwig was credited with the loss.
"Overall, I think we did a great job adjusting to the adverse situations that we encountered in the late innings of each ball game," stated GGC head coach Brad Stromdahl. "Our pitchers got ahead in the count several times, but we struggled to close things out. Tomorrow is another to chance to grow and learn."
No. 8 Georgia Gwinnett returns to the Grizzly Baseball Complex Saturday afternoon in the final game of the series against Williams Baptist. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.
The first 100 fans Saturday will receive a 2016 spring sports poster while one lucky fan each game this year will win the Autobell Car Wash Grizzly Prize Pack.
Tickets for this Saturday's action are $5 per game for adults, $3 for youth, seniors, and military, and free for children under five. All members of the GGC community receive free admission with their Claw Card. Season ticket packages are also on sale for all regular season contests. For more information on ticketing, click here. Free game day parking is available in the deck at the entrance to the GGC campus.
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