The No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team had an answer for every challenge by No. 19 William Carey University and that led to a season-long four-game sweep against the Crusaders, with a 13-8 victory Wednesday afternoon.

GGC (36-8) outscored William Carey 27-to-8 in the final road games of the 2018 regular season, after winning two March games in the home-and-home series between the two teams in Lawrenceville, Ga. The team has won 10 straight games.

The hosts scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning to get within one run, 4-3, Georgia Gwinnett College added three runs of its own in the top of the fourth frame. Then, the Grizzlies put another three runs on the scoreboard in the top of the eighth inning after the Crusaders had pushed across three runs to threaten 10-8.

The middle of the lineup did the damage for the Grizzlies as the 3-4-5 hitters combined for six hits, nine hits and three RBI. Senior Marcus McCorkle went 2-for-3 with four runs scored and drove in a pair of runs. Freshman Walter Courseyscored four times and had two hits, while classmate Nick Barnes had two hits in his two at bats on the afternoon.

Junior Jordan Tylski drove in four runs and went 2-for-3 in the team's 10-hit offensive attack.

Junior Jonathan McKinney won his fourth game in his third starting assignment of the season. Seniors Taylor Folsomand Cole Uvila joined juniors Matthew Swain and Tylski as relief pitchers in contributing to the victory.

Turning Point

After William Carey scored three runs in the third inning to get within one run, 5-4, the Grizzlies quickly responded with a three-run inning in the fourth frame to increase the lead against the Crusaders. GGC began the rally with two outs after a pair of walks. Senior Marcus McCorkle hit a two-run double and then later scored on a base hit from freshman Nick Barnes.

Key Plays

Top of Second

Jordan Tylski gave the visitors a 2-1 lead with a RBI ground out

Top of Third

Brandon Frazier hit a sacrifice fly to score Marcus McCorkle for the second of three runs in the inning

Top of Fourth

Marcus McCorkle connected on a two-run double with two outs to give GGC a 7-4 lead

Nick Barnes followed with a run-scoring single to bring home McCorkle

Top of Eighth

Jordan Tylski extended GGC's lead to five runs, 13-8, with a two-run single with two outs through the left side

By The Numbers

• GGC's 3-4-5 hitters in the starting lineup went a combined 6-for-9, with nine runs scored and three RBI
• William Carey outhit the Grizzlies 11-to-10 in the contest
• GGC scored a run in 10 of the 16 innings in the series
• Walter Coursey and Marcus McCorkle each scored four runs
• Jordan Tylski drove in four runs

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College improves to 36-8 on the season; William Carey (Miss.) falls to 28-17
• GGC is ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Top 25 poll; William Carey is No. 19 in the poll that was released Tuesday by the NAIA national office
• The Grizzlies won all four meetings this season against William Carey; the team outscored the Crusaders 45-to-21 in the home-and-home series
• Wednesday's game marked the final road game of the regular season; GGC went 11-6 on the road in 2018

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to open a three-game series against Talladega College (Ala.) Friday, April 20, at 6 p.m. from the Grizzly Baseball Complex. The team plays its final eight games at home over the next 13 days.