A top-five NAIA baseball matchup lived up to its billing for the 2020 season opener as No. 4-ranked Southeastern University (Fla.) earned a 2-1 hard-fought victory against No. 5 Georgia Gwinnett College on Thursday afternoon in Lakeland, Fla.

The Grizzlies (0-1) grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when junior Livingston Morris hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home junior Gabe Howell.

That advantage held up as senior left hander Hunter Peck tossed five scoreless innings in the starting assignment. He threw a strike on the first pitch to 15 of the 18 batters he faced in the outing. Peck struck out four batters and allowed just three hits.

Junior Christopher Bergmoser allowed two hits in three innings in relief.

Southeastern (1-0) scored both of its runs in the sixth inning. A sacrifice fly from Nolan Machibroda scored Zach Cornell for the eventual game-winning run.

Reliever Ryan Munoz had five strikeouts in four scoreless innings to pick up the victory for the host Fire.

GGC outhit Southeastern by an 8-to-5 margin, with senior Kyle Harvey and junior Austin Bates each recording two hits.

PHOTOS
  Southeastern scored two runs in the sixth inning to grab a 2-1 lead. This came after the Grizzlies went to the bullpen after a strong starting assignment from senior Hunter Peck. A hit by pitch and a base hit opened the sixth inning. Then, the Fire tied the contest at 1-1 on the second wild pitch of the frame. A sacrifice fly Nolan Machibroda to left field scored the eventual game-winning run.
  "We got off to the start we wanted and played with great energy, which is expected in a season opener. This was a tremendous college baseball game played by two of the best teams in the country. It was a very encouraging opening game. Hunter (Peck) competed and gave opposing hitters fits. He pitched out of a little trouble, but we feel great when he's on the mound," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
  Top of First
Livingston Morris hit a sacrifice fly to score Gabe Howell
 
Bottom of Sixth
Cristian Marin scored on a wild pitch to tie the contest
Nolan Machibroda gave the Fire a 2-1 lead with a sacrifice fly
 

• The Grizzlies outhit Southeastern by an 8-to-5 margin
• Senior Kyle Harvey and junior Austin Bates each collected two hits for the Grizzlies
• Two Southeastern pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts

• GGC lost the 2020 season opener; Southeastern stands 1-0 on the season
• Georgia Gwinnett College was ranked No. 5 in the 2020 NAIA Preseason Poll; Southeastern stood No. 4 in the same poll
• The Grizzlies lead the all-time series 6-3, including being 3-1 at Southeastern
• GGC is 5-3 all-time in season openers
• The game was the first with Jeremy Sheetinger being GGC's head coach; he is only the second head coach in program history

Georgia Gwinnett College wraps up its season-opening road series with a doubleheader against Southeastern on Friday, Jan. 31, starting at 2 p.m. from Lakeland, Fla. Saturday's game was moved up one day because of rain in the weekend's weather forecast.