It took the No. 3-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team's offense a little while to warm up, but once it did the Grizzlies exploded for three home runs in winning the nightcap of Sunday's two games against nationally ranked opponents in the Grizzly Invitational at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

GGC (1-2) defeated No. 17-ranked Reinhardt University (Georgia) 10-5 after dropping an 8-6 contest to No. 8 University of the Cumberlands (Kentucky).

Senior Kyle Harvey connected on a solo home run over the left field fence in the second inning to give the hosts a 2-1 lead. Junior Livingston Morris added a two-run home run one inning later as the team's lead grew to 4-1.

Then, things broke open with a three-run seventh inning to build a 9-4 advantage. Senior Griffin Keller hit his first homer of the season in the eighth inning to cap the scoring.

Junior pitcher Gavin Heltemes struck out nine batters and scattered two hits across four innings to pick up the first victory of the young spring season. The team's four pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts in the contest. Senior Hunter Caudelle struck out two of the three batters he faced in the eighth inning during his first action of 2021.

Morris led the Grizzlies' 11-hit offensive attack by going 3-for-5 with three RBI and scoring two runs. Sophomore Jake Defries and Keller each added two hits.

GGC scored in all but one inning against the Eagles.

Earlier, Cumberlands scored three runs in the first inning and pushed across three runs in the eighth inning to conclude play in the Grizzly Invitational with a 3-0 record. The Grizzlies attempted a comeback by scoring four runs in the eighth inning. Keller hit a two-run double in the big inning.


  "This weekend presented opportunities for us to learn and grow. Our offense started to click as the day went along. It took us a couple of games to get there, but the Reinhardt game was more like how our offense can perform," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
  The Grizzlies took a 2-1 lead in the second inning and never looked back against Reinhardt as senior Kyle Harvey hit a solo home run into the GGC bullpen beyond the left field fence. Then, GGC added two runs in the third inning on a home run from junior Livingston Morris.
  Cumberlands Game
Top of First
Bryan Leef opened the scoring with a two-run triple
Jose Rojas grounded out to second base to bring home Leef and give the Patriots a 3-0 lead
 
Bottom of Second
Livingston Morris hit a sacrifice fly to score Nick Barnes
Austin Bates scored on a throwing error to bring the Grizzlies within one run at 3-2
 
Top of Seventh
Bryan Leef connected on a RBI double
 
Top of Eighth
Jose Rojas hit a sacrifice fly to extend the Patriots' lead to 8-2
 
Bottom of Eighth
Griffin Keller brought home a pair of runs with a run-scoring double
Livingston Morris drew a bases-loaded walk to cut GGC's deficit to 8-6
 
Reinhardt Game
Bottom of Second
Kyle Harvey connected on a solo home run to give the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead
 
Bottom of Third
Livingston Morris hit a two-run home run to center field
 
Bottom of Seventh
Nick Barnes brought home Livingston Morris with a RBI single
Cord Johnson hit a fielder's choice to bring home Nick Barnes
Myles McKisic scored from second base after a stolen base and a throwing error to cap the team's three-run inning
 

• Georgia Gwinnett College collected 19 hits across the two games
• The Grizzlies connected on three home runs in the nightcap
• GGC pitchers combined for 26 strikeouts in the two games
• Junior Livingston Morris went 4-for-7 with four RBI on Sunday

• GGC stands 1-2 on the season; Cumberlands is 3-0 in 2021; and Reinhardt falls to 1-3 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 3 in the NAIA Top 25 preseason poll; Cumberlands stood No. 8 and Reinhardt was No. 17 in the same national poll
• GGC opened the season with three games against nationally ranked opponents

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host the Southeast Rumble from Thursday, February 11, through Saturday, February 13, from the Grizzly Baseball Complex.