Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Georgia Gwinnett College baseball senior Chris Jones tied a program single-game school record with five hits in the nightcap as the No. 2-ranked Grizzlies completed a three-game series sweep against Lindenwood University-Belleville with two victories Saturday at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

Prior to the doubleheader, the Office of Athletics' annual Military Appreciation Day honored military personnel and featured the first flyover of a T-38 supersonic jet over the Grizzly Athletic Complex. The jet from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri soared over the campus during the national anthem.

For the action on the field, the Grizzlies (34-8) earned a 3-2 victory in the first game before scoring six runs in their final two innings to capture the second contest 10-4.

Jones went 5-for-5 with a pair of runs scored to lead the team's 18-hit attack in the second game.

Sophomore Hunter Dollander tossed seven strong innings and scattered six hits in picking up the victory in the opening game's starting assignment. Freshman Michael Cherwenka struck out two batters in two hitless relief innings to register the save. GGC turned a key double play in the top of the ninth inning after Lindenwood-Belleville got the leadoff batter on the base paths.

Senior Ryan Lark hit a home run in the third inning of the first game to open the scoring. Senior Tony Salvaggioconnected on a run-scoring double to tie the contest, 2-2, in the fourth inning.

The hosts took the lead for good one inning later on a RBI ground out from Jones to score freshman Cord Johnson.

In the second game, GGC led 3-1 after the second inning before the Lynx batted back behind a three-run sixth inning to grab the lead.

The Grizzlies quickly answered in the home half of the inning on a double from junior Jordan Tylski. The team broke a 4-4 tie by scoring two runs in the seventh and having four more runs touching home in the eighth inning. Back-to-back run-scoring singles from juniors Onassis Matos and Brandon Frazier provided the scoring in the seventh inning.

Turning Point

Leading 3-2 in the top of the ninth inning of the first game, Lindenwood-Belleville attempted a comeback by getting the leadoff batter on base. The Lynx then hoped to get the game-tying run into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. However, the baserunner decided to extend the play to third base, and was thrown out after the Grizzlies got the first out of the inning at first base on the bunt.

Key Plays

First Game

Bottom of Third

Ryan Lark connected on a home run to give the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead

 

Bottom of Fourth

Tony Salvaggio tied the game, 2-2, with a run-scoring double

 

Bottom of Fifth

Chris Jones brought home Cord Johnson on a RBI ground out

 

Second Game

Bottom of First

Onassis Matos hit a RBI ground out as Marcus McCorkle scored to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage

 

Bottom of Second

Tony Salvaggio homered to extend the lead to two runs, 3-1

 

Bottom of Sixth

Jordan Tylski tied the game with a RBI double

 

Bottom of Seventh

Onassis Matos gave the Grizzlies the lead for good with a runs-scoring single up the middle

Brandon Frazier followed with a RBI single to right field to score Matos

 

By The Numbers

• GGC collected 18 hits in the second game
• The Grizzlies recorded eight stolen bases, highlighted by seven steals in the nightcap
• Michael Cherwenka picked up the team's 11th save of the season

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College improves to 34-8 on the season; Lindenwood-Belleville stands 21-25
• GGC is ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Top 25 poll
• The Grizzlies have won all 15 meetings in the all-time series against Lindenwood-Belleville
• GGC has won eight straight games

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to have its final road games of the regular season with a two-game series at No. 11-ranked William Carey University (Miss.) April 17-18 in Hattiesburg, Miss.