Two-run homers by juniors Gabe Howell and Livingston Morris in consecutive innings powered the No. 5-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team to a signature 6-3 comeback victory against No. 11 University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) on Monday night at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

This was a matchup of teams which had both lost just twice at the midway mark of the 2020 season, and the game had a postseason feel, with every pitch and hit being meaningful.

Howell's team-leading sixth home run just over the left field wall in the seventh inning propelled the Grizzlies to a 4-3 lead. Then, Morris added a towering blast in the eighth inning for two additional insurance runs.

Freshman reliever Alex Cook struck out the side in the eighth inning and recorded three more strikeouts in the ninth inning to secure his ninth save of the season.

GGC (22-2) has won 21 consecutive games, marking the second longest winning streak in program history. The team is 19-0 on its home turf this season.

Cumberlands (20-3) jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the second inning. Candido Encarnacion hit a RBI single in the first inning. Mitch Osborne followed with a solo home run and Pedro Nazario added a sacrifice fly in the second inning.

The Grizzlies got a run back in the third inning on a run-scoring single from senior Kyle Harvey.

Junior starting pitcher Christopher Bergmoser kept the Patriots off the scoreboard in the middle innings and tossed a strong six innings. Junior reliever Rhian Mann worked a scoreless seventh inning before the hosts got the offense going with the long ball.

Junior Austin Bates opened the bottom of the seventh by getting hit by a pitch. That's when Howell connected his home run that turned the lead in the Grizzlies' favor.


  Junior Gabe Howell gave GGC a 4-3 lead with a two-run home run just over the wall in left field during the seventh inning. The blast brought home classmate Austin Bates, who led off the frame getting on base after getting hit by a pitch. Howell's last two home runs have given the Grizzlies the lead. He hit a two-run home run in fifth inning of Saturday's win against Talladega College.
  "It was an ultra-competitive environment and it was good to see our guys answer the bell. This game featured so many back-and-forth moments. A lot of credit goes to the players for sticking to their process. We competed at a level that can only make a coach proud," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
  Bottom of First
Gabe Howell scored on a passed ball to square the contest at 1-1
 
Top of Second
Mitch Osborne hit a solo home run to give the Patriots a 2-1 lead
Pedro Nazario added a sacrifice fly for an additional run
 
Bottom of Third
Kyle Harvey hit a RBI single through the left side to bring home Nick Barnes
 
Bottom of Seventh
Gabe Howell connected on a two-run home run to give the Grizzlies a 4-3 lead
 
Bottom of Eighth
Livingston Morris hit a two-run home run to add two key insurance runs
 

• Cumberlands outhit GGC by a 6-5 margin
• Junior Cord Johnson recorded four defensive putouts from center field
• Freshman Alex Cook tallied his ninth save of the 2020 season
• GGC drew eight walks, including seven from Cumberlands starting pitcher Thomas Gutierrez

• GGC improves to 22-2 on the season; Cumberlands falls to 20-3 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 5 in the NAIA Top 25 preseason poll; Cumberlands stood No. 11 in the same poll
• GGC has won 21 straight games and is 19-0 at the Grizzly Baseball Complex this season
• Junior Gabe Howell hit his team-leading sixth home run of the season

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Viterbo University (Wis.) on Tuesday, March 10, at 4 p.m. from the Grizzly Baseball Complex.