The second-ranked Georgia Gwinnett baseball team (18-8) snapped its three-game losing streak on Sunday, defeating Indiana Tech, which is receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll, 13-9.
"Today was a good bounce-back game for our team, coming from behind to win after a couple of tough losses," said GGC head coach Brad Stromdahl. "I'm glad we had an opportunity to go out and play again today and that the weather cooperated to get the final games of this week's spring break action in."
Indiana Tech (14-5) struck first, scoring a run in the second and third innings for the 2-0 lead. The Grizzlies jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third with an RBI-single by designated hitter Jean Figueroa, cutting the Warriors' gap to 2-1. Indiana Tech responded with two more runs in the fourth for the 4-1 lead, scoring on a ground ball by second baseman Chris Gaynor and a bases loaded walk.
In the fifth, Georgia Gwinnett tied the game at 4-4 as second baseman Marcus McCorkle walked with the bases loaded while first baseman Brady Hamilton drove in two Grizzlies with a single to shallow left-center field.
The Warriors' offense struck again in the top of sixth with three runs and then scored one more run in the seventh, gaining an 8-4 lead. Down, but not out, the Grizzlies battled back in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 8-8 and then took their first lead of the contest, 9-8, with a five-run inning.
With runners on first and second, Figueroa brought the Grizzlies within two, 8-6, with a double down the left field line.
In his first start of the 2017 season, catcher Brady Shoppe gave the Grizzlies a major boost on both the offensive and defensive ends of the ball as the junior went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored and collected three putouts. Previously, Shoppe had seen limited at-bats and moments behind the plate while recovering from an off-season injury. The Flowery Branch native tied the game at 8-8 in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI-single to shallow left field and then scored the go-ahead run, 9-8, on a back-to-back passed balls committed by the Warriors.
In the eighth inning, Shoppe drove in the Grizzlies' 11th and 12th runs of the game with a two-run single to shallow right. He would later score the 13th and final Grizzly run of the contest when left fielder Chris Jones ripped an RBI-double down the right field line.
Michael Mayuski, who provided GGC with two innings of relief, picked up his first win of 2017 while Indiana Tech's Austin Eads suffered the loss.
Next, the Grizzlies welcome Point (Ga.) to Lawrenceville on Tuesday for a nine-inning contest at the Grizzly Baseball Complex. Georgia Gwinnett is 2-0 all-time against Point, defeating the Skyhawks 7-5 in their last meeting on March 12, 2013, in Lawrenceville. First pitch between GGC and the Point will take place at 6:00 p.m.
The Grizzlies' contest against the Skyhawks will be broadcasted live on the Grizzly Digital Network with pregame coverage beginning at 5:45 p.m.
Tickets for Tuesday's contest 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. Free game day parking is available in the deck at the entrance to the GGC campus. Georgia Gwinnett is a tobacco and pet free campus.
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