Maximizing its 21 hits led the No. 3-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team to a commanding 20-3 victory against Truett-McConnell University (Georgia) on Saturday afternoon at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

The Grizzlies (6-2), winners of six straight games, scored seven runs in the first inning and hit three home runs in the contest shortened to seven innings by the team's significant advantage on the scoreboard.

Junior outfielder Livingston Morris connected on a pair of three-run home runs and drove in eight runs in the game. He opened GGC's offensive barrage with a three-run homer to right field. Morris then capped his strong performance with a three-run home run into the GGC bullpen beyond the left field fence during a seven-run sixth inning.

Senior outfielder Griffin Keller hit a two-run home run in the second inning in a 4-for-5 offensive display that also had him scoring four times. Sophomore third baseman Jake Defries also collected four hits and scored twice, while junior shortstop Gabe Howell added three hits.

The top four hitters in GGC's batting lineup recorded 14 hits and scored 11 runs in the game.

Meanwhile on the mound, sophomore right hander Jonathan Haab struck out five batters across five scoreless innings to improve to 1-1 on the season. Freshman Jake Bearden and sophomore Hunter Moody each tossed an inning in the contest in relief.

A power outage suspended Saturday's second game of the day with the Grizzlies leading Lourdes University (Ohio) 7-1 in the bottom of the third inning. The contest will resume on Sunday, February 21, starting at noon. The two teams will play a nine-inning contest afterwards.


 
Coach's Corner
"I'm very pleased with how we came out today. Our lineup's 1-through-5 hitters are as good as any team in the country. Livingston is seeing the ball well and is swinging the bat as well as I have ever seen him. He's comfortable and confident in his hitting approach," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
 
Turning Point
One day after picking up a 5-3 victory against Truett-McConnell, the Grizzlies busted out of the gates in a big way Saturday. They scored seven runs and batted around the nine-player batting lineup in the first inning. Junior Livingston Morris opened the scoring with a three-run home run. The first seven batters in GGC's lineup reached safely to begin the contest.
 
Key Plays
Bottom of First
Livingston Morris connected on a three-run home run
Myles Smith hit a two-run single to left field as the Grizzlies scored seven times in the inning
 
Bottom of Second
Griffin Keller hit a two-run home run
 
Bottom of Third
Livingston Morris brought home two more runs with a double
Austin Bates hit a RBI single
 
Bottom of Sixth
Livingston Morris connected on his second three-run homer of the game
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies registered 21 hits in the win
• Senior Griffin Keller and sophomore Jake Defries each collected four hits
• GGC's 1-2-3-4 hitters in the lineup recorded 14 hits
• The team scored multiple runs in four of its six offensive innings

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 6-2 this spring; Truett-McConnell stands 7-4 in 2021
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 3 in the NAIA Top 25 preseason poll
• The team has scored 19 runs in the first inning of its games so far this spring
• GGC has won six straight games

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College will resume Saturday's contest against Lourdes University (Ohio) on Sunday, February 21, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at noon. The two teams will then play a nine-inning contest 45 minutes after the finish of the completed game.