After rallying from a 5-1 deficit in the seventh inning, the No. 12-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team suffered a 7-5 loss in 10 innings to No. 2 Faulkner University Saturday night at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

Earlier in the day, GGC (14-2) put runs on the scoreboard in each of the first four innings in picking up a 9-3 victory over No. 17 Clarke University (Iowa).

Against Faulkner, junior Onassis Matos hit a two-run home run as part of a three-run seventh inning to bring the Grizzlies within 5-4. Then, classmate Jordan Tylski tied the game with a single in the bottom of the ninth inning, and Faulkner center fielder Reese Cooley made a diving catch to save the game for the undefeated Eagles.

In extra innings, Andrew Carter drove in a pair of runs with a two-out single to right field in the top of the 10th inning.

GGC tried a rally of its own, getting a leadoff walk in the bottom of the 10th inning, and the potential game-tying run came to the plate. However, Faulkner's relief pitching got two strikeouts and a groundout to end the threat.

Senior Kade Carrigan collected three of the GGC's 13 hits in the Clarke triumph. Brandon Frazier and Chris Jones hit home runs in the game. Junior right hander Hunter Dollander struck out eight batters in 6.1 innings to pick up the victory.

Turning Point

Faulkner kept the top half of the 10th inning alive when a wild pitch on a swinging third strike allowed Austin Paschke to reach base with two outs. Andrew Carter followed with a single to right field that scored two runs.

Key Plays

Clarke Game

Bottom of Second

Brandon Frazier connected on a solo home to right field to give GGC a 3-0 lead

Bottom of Third

Chris Jones hit his second home run of the season

Bottom of Fourth

Jordan Tylski singled down the right field line to score Nick Barnes for the first of four runs in the frame

David Burrow drove in two runs with a triple to center field

Kade Carrigan gave GGC an 8-1 lead with a run-scoring single

Faulkner Game

Top of Sixth

Reid Long hit a two-run home run to give the Eagles a 4-1 lead

Bottom of Seventh

A wild pitch with two outs allowed Nick Barnes to score, cutting the deficit to 5-2

Onassis Matos connected on a towering two-run home run

Bottom of Ninth

Jordan Tylski drove home Walter Coursey with a single up to center field to tie the game, 5-5

Faulkner's Reese Cooley sent the game into extra innings when he made a diving catch in the left-center field gap on a ball hit by Chris Jones

Top of 10th

Andrew Carter gave the visitors a 7-5 lead with a two-out single to right field

Inside The Numbers

• Hunter Dollander registered eight strikeouts over 6.1 innings to pick up the victory against Clarke
• GGC tallied 22 hits in the two games
• Jordan Tylski had a pair of hits in the Clarke and Faulkner contests
• Six pitchers took to the mound for Faulkner

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College stands 14-2 on the season; Clarke falls to 1-9 this spring; Faulkner now stands 15-0
• GGC is 12-1 this season at the Grizzly Baseball Complex
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 12 in the NAIA preseason Top 25 poll; Clarke No. 17 in the poll; Faulkner was No. 2
• GGC's loss to Faulkner is the first setback in 14 extra-inning games played in school history
• GGC is 11-2 against nationally ranked opponents in 2018

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College closes out the February portion of the 2018 season with a nine-inning game Wednesday, Feb. 28, against Albany State University (Ga.), starting at 3 p.m., at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.