Walk-off loss runs were the bookends of the No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team's mid-week series at No. 6 Lewis-Clark State College. Thursday afternoon's 7-6 setback in the bottom of the ninth inning came immediately after the Grizzlies tied the game by scoring four runs with two outs.

The two teams split the competitive four-game series. GGC (19-4) scored 39 runs, including a school-record 26 runs in Wednesday's doubleheader sweep.

Senior Marcus McCorkle connected on a two-run double to right field to bring the visitors within two runs, 6-4, in the top of the ninth inning. Junior Alex Garland followed with a game-tying home run to left field.

That's when Lewis-Clark State (13-5) got a RBI single from Matt Thompson in the bottom of the frame to secure the victory.

The Warriors scored three times in the first inning and led 5-2 after a pair of runs were scored in the sixth inning.

A two-run single by junior C.J. Ballard in the second inning got the Grizzlies on the scoreboard. He had three hits in the game. Freshman Walter Coursey went 3-for-3 with a run scored.

Turning Point

Matt Thompson's pitch-hit base hit to left field gave Lewis-Clark State the victory in the bottom of the ninth inning. GGC had scored four times with two outs in the ninth inning to force the Warriors to bat in the ninth inning.

Key Plays

Top of Second

C.J. Ballard got the Grizzlies on the scoreboard with a two-run single to center field and trimmed the deficit to 3-2

Bottom of Sixth

A wild pitch gave Lewis-Clark State an insurance run at 4-2

Kasey Bailey hit a run-scoring double to give the hosts a three-run advantage

Top of Ninth

Marcus McCorkle brought the Grizzlies within two runs, 6-4, on a two-run double to right field

Alex Garland then tied the game with his second home run of the series

Bottom of Ninth

Matt Thompson connected on a RBI single to left field to drive in the winning run for Lewis-Clark State College

Inside The Numbers

• GGC outhit the Warriors 12-to-11 in the contest, led by Walter Coursey's 3-for-3 performance
• C.J. Ballard collected three hits from the leadoff spot in the batting lineup
• The Grizzlies scored 54 runs during the four-game series (13.5 runs per game)

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College stands 19-4 on the season; Lewis-Clark State improves to 13-5
• GGC was No. 2 and Lewis-Clark State is No. 6 in the first regular-season NAIA Top-25 poll, released earlier this week by the NAIA national office
• The Grizzlies hit six home runs in the series
• Three of GGC's four losses have come in either extra innings or walk-off fashion

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to travel to No. 11-ranked Bryan College (Tenn.) March 13 at 3 p.m. for a single nine-inning game from Dayton, Tenn.