The third-ranked Georgia Gwinnett baseball team swept Friday's doubleheader with Ohio State Lima, defeating the Barons 17-1 and 8-3.
"Today was a great effort," stated GGC head coach Brad Stromdahl. "The guys had quality at bats even in our outs. Fifteen hits and 25 runs in two games is something to be proud of."
In game one, the Grizzlies (28-1) scored in five of the six innings they went to the plate. The Grizzlies held a 5-0 advantage after the first two innings before the Barons (1-12) scored their first and only run of the opening game of the twin bill.
Georgia Gwinnett pushed its gap to 12-1, scoring seven insurance runs in the fourth. Second baseman Jereid Woods plated the first of seven runs in the inning with an RBI-single to shallow right. Three pitches later, center fielder Josh Merrigan drove in two Grizzlies with a ground-rule double down to the right field corner. Up 8-1, a bases loaded walk to shortstop Trevor Bradley pushed the Grizzly lead to eight, 9-1. The run-filled inning concluded with a bases-clearing, three-run triple by shortstop Marcus McCorkle.
GGC added an insurance run in the fifth and four more runs in the sixth en route to the 17-1 victory. Grizzly starter Tyler Oglesby picked up the win, surrendering one run on three hits while striking out three. OSU-Lima's Mike Jones was credited with the loss, surrendering 11 runs, nine earned, on seven hits.
In the nightcap of Friday's twin bill, the Grizzlies collected an 8-3 win over the Barons. Prior to the game, Georgia Gwinnett hosted a special recognition ceremony as a part of its Military Appreciation Day.
The Grizzlies welcomed Edward Robbins, Veterans Outreach Specialist at the Lawrenceville Vet Center, and Aizaz Shaikh, C.O.V.E.R.T. Vice President at GGC, for their ceremonial first pitch while the Colors were presented by the GGC Army ROTC. The pregame ceremony was capped off by an acapella National Anthem by Akeia Lyles.
The Barons garnered their only lead of the day in the opening inning of game two, taking a 3-0 advantage over the Grizzlies. A passed ball and two-run single by second baseman Austin Leigh gave OSU-Lima the lead.
OSU-Lima's lead lasted briefly as the Grizzlies tied the ballgame in the bottom of the first with a sacrifice fly by Woods, and RBI-singles by William Paschal and Kyler Timmerman.
Georgia Gwinnett took the 7-3 in the bottom of the third and pushed an insurance run across the plate in the bottom of the fourth en route to the 8-3 win. GGC's starting pitcher Davis Adkins remained perfect on the year, 6-0, recording the win. The right-hander went four innings, surrendering three runs on two hits while striking out eight. OSU-Lima's Tyler Blumentritt received the loss, surrendering seven runs on 10 hits in three innings of work.
The same two teams face off again on Saturday as they wrap up their four-game series. First pitch for Saturday's action is set for 1:00 p.m. at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.
Tickets for each day are $5 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. For more information on ticketing, click here. Free game day parking is available in the deck at the entrance to the GGC campus.
Game Day Central
Live Video coverage, starting 15 minutes prior to First Pitch, provided by the Grizzly Digital Network:
http://portal.stretchinternet.com/ggc/
Live stats links:
http://bit.ly/1WhMi7g
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