The top-seeded Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team scored nine runs after the sixth inning to defeat No. 5-seeded Point University (Ga.) 10-0 Monday night on the first day of the 2018 NAIA Baseball Lawrenceville Bracket Opening Round at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

The victory moves the Grizzlies (46-10) into winner's bracket action against No. 3-seeded Keiser University (Fla.) on Tuesday, May 15, at 3 p.m.

Junior pitcher Gregory Loukinen went the distance on the mound and the left hander spread across five hits and tallied 10 strikeouts.

Freshman Nick Barnes hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning to break a scoreless game between the two teams.

That 1-0 advantage would stand up until the top of the seventh inning. That's when GGC mounted a two-out rally with three consecutive walks. Freshman Walter Coursey scored a pair of runs with a single. Then, senior Marcus McCorklehit a two-run triple to give the team a 5-0 lead. Junior Alex Garland hit a run-scoring single to cap the five-run inning.

Georgia Gwinnett College added four runs in the eighth inning with junior C.J. Ballard connecting on a two-run single. The outfielder went 4-for-4, with two runs scored, to lead the team's 10-hit offensive attack.

Point (35-24) had defeated No. 4-seeded Indiana Wesleyan 10-7 earlier in the day.

Turning Point

Freshman Walter Coursey delivered a key two-run single to start GGC's five-run seventh inning. After three straight walks with two outs, Coursey drove home a pair of runs to extend the team's lead to 3-0. GGC added three more runs later in the inning.

Key Plays

Top of Fourth

Nick Barnes hit a solo home run to give the Grizzlies the lead

Top of Seventh

Walter Coursey drove home a pair of runs with a single

Marcus McCorkle hit a two-run triple to give GGC a 5-0 lead

Alex Garland capped the team's big inning with a run-scoring single

Top of Eighth

C.J. Ballard hit a two-run single as part of a four-hit game

By The Numbers

• GGC outhit the Skyhawks 10-to-5 in the contest
• C.J. Ballard collected four of the team's 10 hits
• The Grizzlies drew seven walks in the victory
• Gregory Loukinen recorded 10 strikeouts and did not allow a walk in the shutout performance

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College improves to 46-10 on the season; Point falls to 35-24 in 2018
• GGC is ranked No. 2 in the final regular-season NAIA Top 25 poll
• The Grizzlies are hosting a NAIA Opening Round for the fifth consecutive year
• In other games on the first day of the double-elimination tournament, Point defeated Indiana Wesleyan University 10-7 and Keiser University defeated Lyon College (Ark.) 8-2

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College advances to the winner's bracket to play No. 3-seeded Keiser University (Fla.) Tuesday, May 15, at 3 p.m. at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.