Box Score

The Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team has some extra work to do in hopes of winning the 2018 Association of Independent Institutions championship, after suffering a 11-7 loss to No. 3-seeded Talladega College (Ala.) Sunday in the winner's bracket game of the league tournament at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

GGC (44-9) now has to battle its way through the loser's bracket, with the first test coming Monday, May 7, at 11 a.m. with an elimination game against No. 4-seeded Edward Waters College. Then, the team would need to win a rematch with Talladega at 3 p.m., to force a winner-takes-all title showdown Tuesday, May 8, at 11 a.m.

Talladega (26-22) scored six runs in the seventh inning and added three insurance runs in the ninth inning to defeat the top-seeded Grizzlies and assure the Tornadoes their second straight appearance in the NAIA Opening Round of the national tournament. It also was the first victory over GGC in four games this season and broke the tournament host's 18-game winning streak.

The Alabama opponent jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a pair of run-scoring base hits with two outs.

Georgia Gwinnett College (44-9) came back with four runs in the fifth inning to take the lead. A two-run single from senior Marcus McCorkle tied the contest. A walk to junior Brandon Frazier gave the Grizzlies the lead. Then, senior Kade Carrigan delivered a sacrifice fly to cap the team's four-run frame.

One inning later, GGC added two more runs on a sacrifice fly and a sacrifice bunt. The team took a 6-2 lead into the seventh inning.

But, Talladega had the final answer, scoring four runs with no outs in the seventh inning, with a two-run single by Gustavo Castellano tying the game. The visitors then took an 8-6 lead on a two-run single by Anthony Ruiz, once again coming with two outs in the frame.

The Grizzlies would get a run back on a RBI double from junior C.J. Ballard in the bottom of the seventh inning. However, that would be as close as the team would get. Talladega added three insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning to seal the victory.

Ballard collected three of GGC's 10 hits in the contest, while junior Alex Garland went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Talladega was led by Luis Ortiz with three hits and three RBI. Pitcher Manuel Caballero tossed four innings in relief to pick up the victory.

Turning Point

The first six batters for Talladega reached in the seventh inning as the Tornadoes turned a 6-2 deficit into an 8-6 advantage. The team tied the game on a two-run single from Gustavo Castellano. Then, Tornadoes took the lead for good, 8-6, on a two-run single by Anthony Ruiz.

Key Plays

Bottom of Fifth

Marcus McCorkle tied the game, 2-2, with a two-run single

Brandon Frazier drew a bases-loaded walk to give GGC the lead

Kade Carrigan hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Marcus McCorkle

 

Bottom of Sixth

Chris Jones connected on a sacrifice fly to score Jordan Tylski, giving the Grizzlies a 5-2 lead

Walter Coursey laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Cord Johnson

 

Bottom of Seventh

C.J. Ballard hit a two-out RBI double to trim GGC's deficit to 8-7

 

By The Numbers

• Both teams combined for 24 hits, led by Talladega's 14 hits
• GGC hitters drew nine walks and were hit by a pitch on three occasions
• C.J. Ballard went 3-for-4 with a double

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College falls to 44-9 on the season; Talladega improves to 26-22 this spring
• GGC is ranked No. 2 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
• Talladega clinched a bid to the A.I.I. Baseball Tournament's championship round and to the NAIA Opening Round
• GGC beat Talladega in a three-game series in Lawrenceville during the regular season

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College plays No. 4-seeded Edward Waters College in an elimination contest Monday, May 7, at 11 a.m. at the Grizzly Baseball Complex. The winner advances to the championship round and a game against Talladega, starting at 3 p.m.