The No. 3-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team scored 32 runs on 32 hits across 14 innings to record a pair of lopsided victories Saturday, first beating West Virginia Tech 22-2 before defeating the University of Northwestern Ohio 10-0 at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

The Grizzlies (10-3) used a seven-run second inning to build an early 9-2 lead against West Virginia Tech (2-2). A few innings later, GGC pushed across nine more runs to achieve a season-high 22 runs.

Junior shortstop Gabe Howell went 4-for-5 at the plate, drove in three runs and scored four runs from the leadoff spot in the batting lineup. Senior left fielder Griffin Keller drove in four runs and collected three hits. Junior catcher Austin Bates added three RBI and was 3-for-4 in Saturday's opener.

Senior third baseman Kyle Harvey scored five runs and recorded five hits in the two games. He went 3-for-3 with three runs scored against Northwestern Ohio.

In that second game, GGC used a pair of doubles from Keller and junior right fielder Livingston Morris during a three-run third inning. Junior Nick Barnes came off the bench to hit a three-run home run during a five-run seventh inning.

The Racers (1-5) loaded the bases with one out in the fifth inning while trailing 4-0. However, Georgia Gwinnett College right-hander starting pitcher Jonathan Haab struck out the next two batters to keep the Ohio visitors off the scoreboard.

"I found it within myself to dig down deep. My slider felt great today and overall everything felt really good coming out of the hand," said Haab.

The sophomore finished the contest with 12 strikeouts across six shutout innings. Haab allowed just two hits to pick up his second win of the season. Junior right-handed pitcher Kevin Kyle picked up his first win of 2021 with five strong innings against West Virginia Tech.


  "I'm beyond ecstatic for this group. The players put in the work this week during training and it all showed up today. We talked about winning the momentum battle and we did it in every facet of the game. We had great energy in the field and in the dugout," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
  Trailing 4-0 in the fifth inning, Northwestern Ohio loaded the bases with one out. However, GGC sophomore right hander Jonathan Haab struck out Don Goodes and Glen Crabtree to extinguish the threat. Then, the Grizzlies' offense went to work to build upon the four-run lead to score the 10-0 home victory.
  West Virginia Tech Game
Bottom of First
Josh Davis hit a run-scoring single to cap a three-run inning for GGC

Bottom of Second
Gabe Howell gave the Grizzlies a 4-0 lead with a RBI single
Tate Kight added a two-run single to stretch the team's lead to 9-2
 
Bottom of Fifth
J.D. Stubbs hit a RBI double to bring home Myles McKisic for the hosts
Gabe Howell lined a two-run double to center field
 
Northwestern Ohio Game
Bottom of First
Livingston Morris gave the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead with an RBI ground out
 
Bottom of Third
Griffin Keller hit a run-scoring double to bring home Gabe Howell for another GGC run
Austin Bates laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Griffin Keller
 
Bottom of Seventh
Nick Barnes connected on a three-run home run to cap GGC's scoring for the day
 

• The Grizzlies recorded 32 hits to score their 32 runs during Saturday's action
• Senior Kyle Harvey went 5-for-6 and scored five runs in the two games
• Sophomore Jonathan Haab tallied 12 strikeouts while picking up the win against Northwestern Ohio
• GGC scored seven runs in the second inning and added nine runs during the fifth inning against West Virginia Tech

• GGC improves to 10-3 in 2021; West Virginia Tech stands 2-2 this spring; Northwestern Ohio falls to 1-5 on the season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 3 in the NAIA Top 25 preseason poll
• GGC has scored 20 or more runs twice this season
• The team leads the series history with West Virginia Tech by a 9-1 margin and Northwestern Ohio 10-1

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host West Virginia Tech on Sunday, February 28, at 1 p.m.