The No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team's winning ways continued at the Grizzly Baseball Complex Friday, March 16, with a doubleheader sweep against No. 8 William Carey University – accounting for the Grizzlies' 16th victory against a nationally ranked opponent this spring.

Playing on its home turf for the first time in 13 days, GGC (22-4) used a five-run sixth inning to score a 13-9 victory in the first game, before getting a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull out a 5-4 win in the nightcap.

Trailing 8-5 in the sixth inning of the first game, the hosts received two-run triples from junior Alex Garland and freshman Nick Barnes to turn things around and take a 10-8 advantage. Three more runs scored in the eighth inning increased the lead to 13-8.

In the nightcap, Barnes had the big hit with a double down the right-field line to score Garland and senior Chris Jones for the winning margin. Junior relief pitcher Jordan Tylski retired the Crusaders (18-8) in order across the top of the ninth inning to seal the victory.

GGC tallied 21 hits in the doubleheader, with Tylski having five RBI and three base hits when playing shortstop in the GGC lineup.

Turning Point

Trailing by a run in the bottom of the eighth inning of the nightcap, the Grizzlies mounted a comeback with a leadoff double by junior Alex Garland. Senior Chris Jones followed with a walk. A wild pitch moved both baserunners into scoring position for freshman Nick Barnes' late-inning heroics. He proceeded to line a double deep down the right-field line to bring Garland home with the tying run and Jones with the leading tally. Junior reliever Jordan Tylski retired the side in order across the ninth to seal the victory.

Key Plays

First Game

Bottom of Second

Jordan Tylski tied the game, 2-2, with a two-run single to left field

C.J. Ballard gave GGC the lead with an infield single that scored Jordan Tylski

Bottom of Third

Kade Carrigan lined a single up the middle to bring home Alex Garland to give the Grizzlies a 5-2 lead

Bottom of Sixth

Marcus McCorkle started a five-run inning with an infield hit that scored C.J. Ballard

Alex Garland tripled down the left-field line to square the contest, 8-8, by driving in two runs

Nick Barnes gave the hosts the lead, 10-8, with a two-run triple

Second Game

Bottom of Second

Jordan Tylski brought home Alex Garland with a run-scoring single

David Burrow connected on a RBI single to give GGC a 3-2 lead

Top of Sixth

Wes Brown tied the game, 3-3, on a groundout that scored Tyler Evans

Caleb Ledet stole third and later scored on the play to give William Carey a 4-3 lead

Bottom of Eighth

Nick Barnes lined a two-run double deep down the right-field line to score Alex Garland and Chris Jones

Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies tallied 21 hits across the two games
• Junior Jordan Tylski had five RBI and got the pitching win in the second game when he came on as a reliever after playing shortstop for first 17 innings in the doubleheader; he retired all four batters he faced in the top of the inning
• GGC batters drew eight walks in the first game
• The Grizzlies stole six bases in the doubleheader, including four steals in the opener

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College improves to 22-4 on the season; William Carey falls to 18-8
• GGC is ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Top 25 poll; William Carey stands No. 8 in the latest poll
• The team is 16-4 against nationally ranked opponents this spring
• GGC is 17-1 at the Grizzly Baseball Complex in 2018
• The Grizzlies are 6-2 in one-run games this season

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play St. Ambrose University (Iowa) Saturday, March 17, at 5 p.m. William Carey and St. Ambrose begin the day's action with a game at 2 p.m.