The Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team completed its second straight weekend sweep, defeating University of Pikeville by 9-6 and 11-3 scores Saturday at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

The Grizzlies (19-7) have now won seven straight games and swept the Bears in the three-game series by a combined 34-9 score.

In the day's first game, GGC scored four runs in the sixth inning to earn a come-from-behind victory. Senior Griffin Keller hit a sacrifice fly to put the team on top for good, 7-6. Junior catcher Austin Bates followed with a two-run triple to provide more cushion to the lead.

Keller gave the hosts a 3-1 lead behind a three-run home run in the third inning. Pikeville chipped away at the deficit by scoring three runs in the fifth inning before taking a 6-5 lead in the top of the sixth inning.

In the nightcap, Georgia Gwinnett College scored five runs in the second inning to build a 6-0 advantage. The team's 11 hits were spread across the lineup with four players collecting two hits apiece. Keller drove in three runs and scored twice to go along with his two hits. Junior right fielder Nick Barnes had two hits in both games Saturday.

Sophomore first baseman Jake Defries, in his first start since returning from injury, went 2-for-2 at the plate. Freshman second baseman Josh Davis rounded out the team's balanced offensive attack by going 2-for-3 and scoring a pair of runs.


  "It was an odd weather day. Our hitters squared up on some balls but the wind kept them in the ballpark. So, we found different ways to score runs today. It was good for us to immediately respond in the first game. Being down a run late in that contest, we needed to string together some at-bats. It all started with a hit by pitch against Cord (Johnson)," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
  After allowing two runs in the top of the sixth inning to fall behind 6-5 in Saturday's opener, the Grizzlies quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning. Junior center fielder Cord Johnson was hit by a pitch before back-to-back walks loaded the bases. GGC tied the game, 6-6, when sophomore shortstop Myles McKisic drew a walk. Senior left fielder Griffin Keller hit a sacrifice fly to give the hosts the lead for good at 7-6. Junior catcher Austin Bates gave GGC some insurance runs with a two-run triple.
  First Game
Bottom of Third
Griffin Keller hit a three-run home run to right field to give the Grizzlies a 3-1 lead
 
Bottom of Sixth
Myles McKisic drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 6-6
Griffin Keller gave the Grizzlies a 7-6 lead with a sacrifice fly
Austin Bates hit a two-run triple to cap the four-run inning
 
Second Game
Bottom of Second
Josh Davis drew a bases-loaded walk to open the five-run inning
Cord Johnson also drew a walk with the bases loaded to bring home another run
Griffin Keller drove in a pair of runs with a single
 
Bottom of Sixth
Nick Barnes hit a two-run triple to extend GGC's lead to 9-3
 

• The Grizzlies had 20 hits across the doubleheader sweep
• Senior Griffin Keller recorded a pair of multiple-hit games, increasing his hitting streak to 10 straight games with at least two hits
• GGC hitters drew 14 walks in the second game
• Four pitchers combined to strikeout 14 Pikeville hitters in the nightcap

• GGC improves to 19-6 this spring; Pikeville drops to 4-17 on the season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 7 in the first regular season NAIA Top 25 poll
• GGC has won seven straight games

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Columbia International University (South Carolina) on Tuesday, March 23, from the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at 3 p.m.