The fifth-ranked Georgia Gwinnett baseball team used a combined 32 runs on Saturday to defeat Montreat (N.C.) 23-1 and 9-4 in doubleheader action. With the victories, the Grizzlies sweep the series in their first-ever three-game set with the Cavaliers
"Today's win gives us our second series sweep of the season and our third series win of the year," said GGC head coach Brad Stromdahl. "The guys are buying into what we are doing on the field, and the results are beginning to show. On Friday, we struggled to get hits and take advantage of runners in scoring position. Today's wins are a testament to keeping our focus, reacting to our circumstances, and capitalizing on key moments during each game."
The Grizzlies (13-4) used 14 hits and three Cavalier errors to produce 23 runs in game one. GGC's starter Tyler Souris threw seven innings of one-hit ball, surrendering just one run in the third. The Bradenton, Fla., native also struck out seven of the 25 batters he faced.
Georgia Gwinnett had two home runs in the contest, a two-run shot by right-fielder Austin Alexander and a two-run blast from pinch hitter Alex Garland, and also witnessed a 2-for-3 performance from first baseman Brandon Frazier. Catcher Jean Paul Rodriguez also joined the offensive assault with a three-run double in the fourth.
Montreat's lone run of game one was courtesy of a solo home run by center fielder Eli Ledford.
In game two, the Grizzlies used a 3-for-5, three-RBI performance by second baseman Marcus McCorkle and a 3-for-4 tally by center fielder Rodney Tennie to garner a 9-4 victory over the Cavaliers. The duo combined for four stolen bases in the contest, stealing two apiece.
Montreat (7-5) led the Grizzlies 3-2 in the top of the third, but an RBI-single by Frazier tied the game at 3-3. In the bottom of the fourth, GGC rallied for four runs to take the 7-3 lead. McCorkle made it 5-3 with a two-run double to the left-center gap and later scored on a double steal to make it 6-3. Two pitches later, right fielder Brady Hamilton scored on the Cavaliers' third error of the contest.
GGC plated two more insurances runs, one in the fifth and seventh, pushing the lead to 9-3. While Montreat mustered a run in the top of the eighth, the Cavaliers could not overcome GGC's five-run lead as the Grizzlies held on for the 9-4 victory.
Grizzly starter Myles Smith received the win, allowing three runs, one earned, on four hits while striking out six in five innings of work. Montreat's Andres Cancio suffered his first loss of 2017, surrendering eight runs, six earned, on 11 hits.
Georgia Gwinnett will hit the road for one game against No. 17 Middle Georgia State on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 3:00 p.m., but will return to the Grizzly Baseball Complex on March 1 to face NCAA Division II foe Albany State (Ga.) at 4:00 p.m. In their last meeting with Albany State, the Grizzlies defeated the Golden Rams 17-1 in Albany on Feb. 8.
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