The Georgia Gwinnett baseball team's record-setting 2016 season came to a close on Friday as the Grizzlies were edged by Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 4-3 in the championship game of the NAIA Opening Round's Lawrenceville Bracket.
"Our team played with the utmost passion and competitiveness throughout the entire season," stated GGC head coach Brad Stromdahl. "Their willingness to give their all every single pitch is what made this season so great. Our team was led by our seniors. They have continued to solidify our baseball program at Georgia Gwinnett as one of the best in the nation. Even though our season ended sooner than any of us had hoped, we played with passion and resolve until the last moment. I love and respect every member of this team and am so happy to have the opportunity to have coached them."
Georgia Gwinnett struck first in the opening inning of play, taking a 2-0 advantage on a two-run double to shallow left field by center fielder Josh Merrigan.
In the top of the fourth, GGC pushed its gap to 3-0 over the Blue Raiders with an RBI-double to left by third baseman William Paschal.
Lindsey Wilson (42-23) broke up the shutout in the bottom of the fourth with a sacrifice fly to deep left by third baseman Ryan Harper, scoring shortstop Jan Carlos Ortiz from third. The Blue Raiders pulled within one, 3-2, in the sixth with an RBI-double by right fielder Victor Nazario.
Lindsey Wilson, the designated home team, then rallied in the bottom of the ninth to score two runs for the 4-3 walk-off victory. Nazario's second RBI-hit of the game tied the game at 3-3 while a GGC wild pitch with the bases loaded gave the Blue Raiders the victory. With the win, Lindsey Wilson advances to the Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series in Lewiston, Idaho, May 27-June 3 as the champion of the Lawrenceville Bracket.
Adam Clark went four innings for the Grizzlies, surrendering just one run on four hits while reliever Davis Adkins also completed four innings, allowing one run on three hits.
The Grizzlies' season ends with a program-best 57-6 record, including a record 25-game winning streak and the highest winning percentage (.905) in the NAIA.
Georgia Gwinnett's 564 runs scored and .337 team batting average both finish second-best in program history. The Grizzly pitching staff allowed a program-low 234 runs while striking out the second-most batters in a single season (543).
Several individual school records were also set during the 2016 campaign, including second baseman Jereid Woods finishing with career highs in games played (231), starts (184), at-bats (631), doubles (33), and runs scored (181).
Adkins, who set a new school single-season strikeout record (101) with two in Friday's championship game against Lindsey Wilson, stands as the all-time winningest pitcher for the Grizzlies, ending his GGC career with 19 victories. Adkins finished the 2016 season with a 1.88 ERA to bring his career mark to a GGC-best 2.33.
First baseman Zac Rinehart batted a program-best .440 on the season, as the Snellville native led the Grizzlies at the plate, driving in 62 runs on 81 hits.
To access the complete 2016 season statistics, click here.
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