Timely hitting and a complete-game pitching performance was the recipe for success as the No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team defeated No. 11 Bryan College (Tenn.) 8-3 Tuesday afternoon on the Lions' home diamond.

The Grizzlies (20-4) used a three-run seventh inning to build a 6-1 lead. Junior Alex Garland hit a two-run single to bring home freshman Walter Coursey and senior Marcus McCorkle. A two-out single by senior Tony Salvaggio capped the key frame.

On his next trip to the plate, Garland connected on a two-run home run in the eighth inning. The first baseman went 4-for-5 with five RBI in the victory.

Junior Gregory Loukinen scattered six hits in tossing the complete-game victory. The left hander improved to 2-0 on the season. He did not allow a hit until the fifth inning.

GGC scored two runs in the first inning and took a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning on a RBI double from Garland.

Bryan (20-4) got all of its run production from home runs, with a solo homer in the fifth and a two-run belt over the outfield fence in the ninth inning.

Turning Point

Leading 3-1 in the seventh inning, the Grizzlies broke the game open with a two-run single by junior Alex Garland. Senior Tony Salvaggio added a run-scoring single to stretch the lead to 6-1 in the late innings.

Key Plays

Top of First

Marcus McCorkle gave the visitors the lead with a run-scoring single to bring home C.J. Ballard

Nick Barnes connected on a RBI single to score Marcus McCorkle

Top of Fifth

Alex Garland hit a two-out double to give GGC a 3-0 lead

Top of Seventh

Alex Garland delivered a two-run single to score Walter Coursey and Marcus McCorkle to extend GGC's lead to 5-1

Tony Salvaggio's run-scoring single caps a pivotal three-run inning

Top of Eighth

Alex Garlands hit a two-run home run over the right field fence

Inside The Numbers

• GGC collected 17 hits in the victory
• Six players tallied two or more hits for the Grizzlies
• Marcus McCorkle scored three times

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College improves to 20-4 on the season; Bryan falls to 20-4
• GGC is 14-4 against teams ranked in the NAIA Top 25 poll at the time of the contest
• The Grizzlies are ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Top 25 poll; Bryan stands No. 11 in the poll
• The victory capped a five-game road swing in which the team went 3-2 against ranked opponents. GGC split a four-game series at No. 6 Lewis-Clark State College March 6-8.
• GGC leads the all-time series 6-3, including a 3-2 advantage in games played in Dayton, Tenn.
• Gregory Loukinen's complete-game pitching performance is the first time this season that a GGC pitcher has went the distance in a game

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College hosts No. 8 William Carey University (Miss.) in a doubleheader Friday, March 16, at 2 p.m. from the Grizzly Baseball Complex.