Match Up: No. 24 Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) vs. No. 5 Georgia Gwinnett
Game 1: FHU 7 - GGC 6
Game 2: Saturday, Feb. 4 – 1:00 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, Feb. 5 – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Grizzly Baseball Complex, Lawrenceville, Ga.
Game Coverage: Live Video | Live Stats | Twitter
Media Information: 2017 GGC Baseball Media Guide
In its 2017 home opener, the No. 5 Georgia Gwinnett baseball team was edged on Friday evening by the Lions of Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) 7-6.
The Grizzlies (1-2) went toe-to-toe with Freed-Hardeman, but a ninth inning rally by the Lions scored the go-ahead run to down Georgia Gwinnett in its first-ever home opener loss in program history.
"Tonight was a battle against an All-American pitcher in Brandon Guske," said GGC head coach Brad Stromdahl. "Each time we got behind, we battled back to answer with runs of our own or tied the game. We continue to show growth and drive each day and, in the early going, that's what it's all about. Tomorrow is another chance to learn who we are as a team and to battle against a highly competitive program in Freed-Hardeman."
The Lions (1-0) pounced out to the 1-0 lead in the top of the first with an RBI-double by shortstop Houston Looser.
GGC responded with two runs in the fifth to take its only lead of the contest. Center fielder Rodney Tennie, who went 3-for-5 on Friday, drove in third baseman Angel Soto with a two-out RBI-single to tie the game at 1-1. Catcher Jean Paul Rodriguez would also score when FHU's center fielder Cody Duncan bobbled Tennie's single.
In the top of the sixth, a five-run inning would propel the Lions to a 6-2 advantage over GGC, but the Grizzlies did not back down from the challenge. Slowly, the Grizzlies chipped away at the lead to score two runs in the bottom of both the sixth and eighth innings to tie the game at 6-6. In the sixth, a double by first baseman Brady Hamilton plated pinch hitter Chris Jones while a defensive error by the Lions brought the Grizzlies to within two, 6-4, on a chopper hit by shortstop Trevor Bradley.
Bradley, who went 2-for-4, would be a key factor in the Grizzlies' comeback rally in the eighth when a bouncer hit to short was misplayed, scoring the fifth and sixth GGC runs of the game to tie the contest at 6-6.
With the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, Freed-Hardeman would drive in the go-ahead with a sacrifice fly to shallow center by Chase Young.
Guske, who went eight innings for the Lions, picked up the win while GGC's Tanner Shelton was credited with the loss. FHU's Beau Caviness recorded the save, giving up just one hit in a scoreless ninth.
Georgia Gwinnett and Freed-Hardeman are back at it again Saturday in game two of the three-game series. First pitch from the Grizzly Baseball Complex is set for 1:00 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning at 12:45 p.m. on the Grizzly Digital Network.
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