Match Up: No. 5 Georgia Gwinnett (0-1) at No. 15 Keiser (3-0)
Game 1: GGC 5 – Keiser 6
Game 2: Saturday, Jan. 28 – 1:00 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, Jan. 29 – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Silvester Field, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Game Coverage: Live Video | Live Stats | Twitter
Next Home Game: Friday, February 3 vs. No. 24 Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)
Media Information: 2017 GGC Baseball Media Guide
The No. 5 Georgia Gwinnett baseball team was edged in its 2017 season opener on Friday by No. 15 Keiser (Fla.) as the Seahawks defeated the Grizzlies 6-5 at Silvester Field in West Palm Beach, Fla.
"Today was a good day for our team despite the outcome," said GGC head coach Brad Stromdahl. "We had a long bus ride yesterday from Atlanta to West Palm Beach, but the guys played well. We played small ball and were extremely aggressive on the bases and will continue to be. Our team is going to learn our personnel and play to its strengths. Tomorrow is another opportunity for a fun day of baseball and a good test against a good team in Keiser."
The Grizzlies (0-1) jumped out to the 2-0 lead in the first inning with a two-out, two-run single by right fielder Jean Figueroa. Center fielder Rodney Tennie kicked off the 2017 season with an infield bunt single and then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by designated hitter Chris Jones. Figueroa then hit a single up the middle in his first at-bat as a Grizzly to drive two runs in.
In the top of the third, Jones increased the Grizzlies' lead to 3-0 with his first home run in a GGC uniform.
Keiser's Dylan Dore broke up Nikolay Uherek's perfect pitching start through three innings with a single to left field. Prior to the hit, Uherek faced the bare minimum through three innings, forcing the Seahawks to hit into eight groundouts, including one double play.
The Seahawks (3-0) took their first lead of the day, 4-3, in the bottom of the fourth on back-to-back RBI-hits by Brad Myott and Tivon Faneyte and held that lead for the remainder of the contest. Myott drove in Keiser's first run of the day with a single to left, scoring Dore. On the next pitch, Faneyte ripped an RBI-triple to left-centerfield to make it a 3-2 GGC lead. Uherek's next pitch went to the backstop, allowing Faneyte to tie the game at 3-3. Keiser took the 4-3 lead with an RBI-single by shortstop Tom Prospero.
Uherek was lifted in the bottom of the sixth for freshman Grant Sebastian who made his collegiate debut with the Grizzlies. Uherek gave the Grizzlies 5.1 innings of work, striking out one batter while surrendering four runs on five hits. While Sebastian picked up his first career strikeout against Prospero, Keiser's Tyler Goff extended the Seahawks' lead to 6-3 with a pinch-hit, two-RBI double to deep centerfield in the next at-bat.
In the top of the seventh, the Grizzlies cut Keiser's advantage to 6-4 when first baseman Brady Hamilton scored on an infield error by KU's Goff. Previously, Hamilton reached on an infield bunt single, advanced to second on a wild throw, and then stole third base. The Grizzly rally continued with a clutch, two-out RBI-single to shallow right field by Jones to bring GGC within one, 6-5.
Georgia Gwinnett had two chances, once in the eighth and ninth innings, to tie the game, but left runners stranded on both occasions. In the ninth, the Grizzlies were 90 feet away from tying the game but a two-out bunt attempt by Jones, with Myles Smith on third, was popped up to end the game.
Keiser's Ariel Burgos Garcia (1-0) received the win, allowing just three runs on five hits in six innings of work. GGC's Uherek (0-1) was credited with the loss while KU's Miguel Castellanos picked up the save.
With the loss, GGC is 5-1 all-time in opening day contests, including one doubleheader. Stromdahl's squad is now 4-1 all-time against Keiser.
The Grizzlies' season-opening series continues on Saturday, Jan. 28. First pitch of game two of the three-game set from Silvester Field in West Palm Beach, Fla., is slated for 1:00 p.m.
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