The Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team's offense exploded for five homers – four coming on consecutive solo shots in one inning – in a 15-4 and 3-2 doubleheader sweep against Madonna University (Mich.) Friday at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

With the Grizzlies leading 5-2 in the fifth inning of the opener, senior Marcus McCorkle began the power surge with an opposite-field home run. Freshman Nick Barnes followed by drilling a homer over the left field fence. Then, freshman Walter Coursey followed with his first home run of the season down the right field line. And, senior Kade Carrigan wrapped things up with another homer in the frame.

There was nearly a fifth straight home run as junior Brandon Frazier doubled off the wall, inches from clearing the wall in the right-center field gap.

The four home runs tie a single-game school record and are the most GGC has hit in a game at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

GGC tallied 18 hits to score its 15 runs in Friday's first game. Coursey and Barnes were a double shy of hitting for the cycle. Coursey was 4-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored, while Barnes went 3-for-5 with two runs batted in. Carrigan scored three times and had two hits. Juniors C.J. Ballard and Jordan Tylski rounded out the multiple-hit performances.

The nightcap featured a pitcher's duel between GGC junior Tucker Plouffe and Madonna's Tyler Butzin. An unearned run in the fourth inning gave the hosts the lead, and Barnes led off the seventh inning with a solo home run to left field. It was his team-leading third homer of the season.

Madonna tied the game in the top of the ninth inning with a two-out, two-run single by Cole Rize. However, the Grizzlies took home the victory when Carrigan's double scored Coursey with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning – giving the team its fourth walk-off victory of the season. Coursey doubled down the left-field line to get into scoring position.

Sophomore Hunter Dollander scattered six hits across seven quality innings to pick up the victory in the opener. Plouffe had six strikeouts and allowed two hits in 6.1 innings in a no-decision during the nightcap.

Turning Point

After scoring 15 runs in the first game of the doubleheader, the Grizzlies got their fourth walk-off victory of the season in the nightcap. Kade Carrigan's double brought home Walter Coursey with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Coursey doubled down the left-field line to get into scoring position.

Key Plays

First Game

Bottom of Fourth

Nick Barnes got the Grizzlies on the scoreboard with a triple to bring home Marcus McCorkle

Walter Coursey tied the game, 2-2, with a single through the right side

A wild pitch allowed Walter Coursey to score

Brandon Frazier gave GGC a 4-2 lead with a sacrifice fly

Bottom of Fifth

Chris Jones connected on a triple to score C.J. Ballard for the first of six runs in the inning

Marcus McCorkle, Nick Barnes, Walter Coursey and Kade Carrigan hit consecutive home runs

Jordan Tylski hit a run-scoring single to drive home Brandon Frazier

Second Game

Bottom of Fourth

After a fielding error, Nick Barnes singled through the right side. A fielding error in the outfield allowed Marcus McCorkle to score from first base, giving GGC a 1-0 lead

Bottom of Seventh

Nick Barnes hit his second home run of the day to lead off the frame

Top of Ninth

Cole Rize tied the game at 2-2 for Madonna getting a two-run single with two outs

Bottom of Ninth

Kade Carrigan lined a double that allowed Walter Coursey to score for the walk-off victory

Inside The Numbers

• GGC had a season-high 18 hits in the first game
• The pitching staff tallied 17 strikeouts on the day, led by six from second-game starter Tucker Plouffe
• Walter Coursey went 6-for-9 at the plate, with four RBI and four runs scored, in the doubleheader
• GGC outhit Madonna 25-to-10 across both games

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College improves to 16-2 on the season; Madonna falls to 16-3
• GGC is 14-1 this season at the Grizzly Baseball Complex
• The team's four home runs in a game ties the single-game school record and is the most hit by GGC at home; the four consecutive homers was a program first
• Friday's two victories assures the Grizzlies its fifth straight weekend series victory
• GGC has recorded four walk-off triumphs already this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 12 in the NAIA preseason Top 25 poll

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College closes out the 13-game home stand with a single nine-inning game against Madonna Saturday, March 3, starting at 10 a.m. from the Grizzly Baseball Complex.