Seven Georgia Gwinnett College pitchers combined to allow two runs across 18 innings as the No. 7-ranked baseball team swept Thomas University (Ga.) 1-0 in 11 innings and 5-2 in seven innings on Tuesday at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

The doubleheader sweep marked the 300th win for GGC Head Coach Brad Stromdahl.

Junior Gabe Austin hit a walk-off single in the 11th inning to provide the only run of the first game. Senior pitcher Tucker Plouffe took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and had six strikeouts before being relieved by senior Gregory Loukinen for a scoreless eighth inning and senior Matthew Swain tossed three no-hit innings to pick up the victory. GGC's pitchers allowed two hits in the game.

Then, senior Richard Triplet allowed two hits over four innings in relief to pick up the win in the second contest.

Offensively, a run-scoring double from sophomore Cord Johnson tied the second game, 1-1, in the second inning. Freshman Ali LaPread gave the home team the lead with a two-run single with two outs later in the inning.

GGC pushed across one run during the fourth and fifth innings to extend the lead to 5-1. Then, reliever sophomore Denzel Coley got out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh inning. A double play and a ground out gave him the save.

Stromdahl has been the program's only head coach in seven seasons and has guided the Grizzlies to two trips to the Avista-NAIA World Series.
 


Turning Point
Runs were hard to put on the scoreboard in the first game as it took 11 innings to determine a winner by a 1-0 score. GGC opened the inning with a single from sophomore Nick Barnes. A sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch moved the potential game-winning run to third base with one out. Then, junior Gabe Austin hit a walk-off single past a drawn-in infield to give the Grizzlies the victory. It was the team's first extra-inning win of the season and marked its second straight contest with a walk-off base hit.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Bottom of 11th
Nick Barnes opened the inning with a single
Nick Tanner dropped down a sacrifice bunt that advanced Nick Barnes into scoring position
A wild pitch moved Barnes to third base
Gabe Austin hit a walk-off single to score the only run of the game
 
Second Game
Bottom of Second
Cord Johnson drove in Cam Coursey with a run-scoring double
Ali LaPread gave the Grizzlies a 3-1 lead with a two-run single
 
Bottom of Fourth
Cord Johnson scored after a throwing error
 
Bottom of Fifth
Cam Coursey hit a sacrifice bunt to bring home Brody Wofford
 
Inside The Numbers

• Seven GGC pitchers combined to allow only two runs across 18 innings
• The Grizzlies had 14 hits, including eight in the first game
• The team registered four stolen bases in the doubleheader

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 20-7 on the season; Thomas falls to 13-14
• Georgia Gwinnett College now stands No. 7 in the NAIA Top 25 poll, announced Tuesday evening
• The second-game victory was the 300th win in Head Coach Brad Stromdahl's seven seasons leading the GGC program; he has a 300-98 career record
• The Grizzlies lead the all-time series 6-4 against the Night Hawks after winning three of the five games this season
• GGC won its first extra-inning game of the season

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College travels to Cumberland University (Tenn.) for a single nine-inning game on Wednesday, March 20, at 3 p.m.