Scoring five runs over the last four innings, the No. 3-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team completed a three-game series sweep against Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) with an 8-3 victory Sunday afternoon at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

GGC (4-2) broke open a 3-3 tie game by scoring two runs through key situational hitting performances in the bottom of the sixth inning. First, sophomore Nick Barnes was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give the hosts a 4-3 advantage. Then, senior Alex Garland followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home sophomore Cam Coursey to build a two-run lead.

Senior Onassis Matos delivered a two-run single in the eighth inning to add key insurance runs. The catcher went 2-for-3 and was responsible for three of the team's eight runs.

The Grizzlies led 3-1 in the fifth inning after back-to-back bases-loaded walks. However, Lindsey Wilson (0-3) answered with two runs in the top of the sixth to tie the series finale contest.

Junior relief pitcher Charlie Greenich recorded two strikeouts in 1.1 innings to pick up the victory. Six GGC pitchers combined for seven strikeouts in the game.

Coursey collected two hits and scored two runs to round out the team's nine-hit offensive attack. The Preseason All-American had eight hits on the weekend and now has .600 batting and .840 slugging averages after the first two weeks of the season.
 


Coach's Corner
"This was a really good team win, with contributions from everybody. We pitched really well. We got ourselves out of some jams. We also had some big clutch hits. I am happy to take the third game of this series against an opponent that we respect," said Head Coach Brad Stromdahl.
 
Turning Point
The Grizzlies had a quick answer after Lindsey Wilson had tied the game 3-3 in the top of the sixth inning. Three walks loaded the bases before sophomore Nick Barnes gave the hosts the lead when he was hit by a pitch. Senior Alex Garland followed with a sacrifice fly as GGC took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth frame.
 
Key Plays
Bottom of First
Cam Coursey opened the scoring with a single that brought home C.J. Ballard
 


Bottom of Sixth
Nick Barnes was hit by a pitch with the bases load to give GGC a 4-3 lead
Alex Garland hit a sacrifice fly that scored Cam Coursey
 
Bottom of Eight
Onassis Matos hit a two-run single to account for two key insurance runs
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies outhit the Blue Raiders by a 9-to-5 margin
• GGC batters drew 11 walks in the contests; overall the team's hitters had 29 walks in the series
• Junior Onassis Matos and sophomore Cam Coursey each collected two hits
• Sunday's win is the first by a member of the team's relief staff (Charlie Greenich); GGC utilized six pitchers in the game

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 4-2 on the season; Lindsey Wilson stands 0-3 in 2019
• Georgia Gwinnett College was ranked No. 3 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll
• GGC now leads the series 9-3 with the Blue Raiders
• The Grizzlies are 4-2 at home so far this spring

Up Next
The home stand continues as Georgia Gwinnett College hosts Tennessee Wesleyan University on Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 3 p.m. at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.