Playing on the road for the first time this spring, the No. 3 Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team recorded a 9-3 victory in the nightcap to split Friday's doubleheader at No. 22-ranked Middle Georgia State University in Cochran, Georgia. The Knights captured the opener 4-2 in seven innings.

The Grizzlies (11-5) scored two runs in the second, third and fourth innings of the second contest. They pushed across three insurance runs in the eighth inning to earn the split.

Junior center fielder Cord Johnson collected three of GGC's 11 hits in the victory. He scored twice and was one of three players to have multiple-hit efforts. RBI singles from junior right fielder Nick Barnes and freshman designated hitter Chase Evans in the third inning gave GGC an early 4-0 lead.

That offense was enough for senior right-handed pitcher Hunter Dollander, who struck out nine batters in a six-inning mound effort. Freshman reliever Gage Williams tossed three scoreless innings to pick up his second save of the season.

In the day's opener, Middle Georgia State (12-5) grabbed a 2-0 lead without the ball leaving the infield. Parker Stahlman hit an infield single to open the scoring before Michael Garner was hit by a pitch.

Barnes connected on a solo home run in the fourth inning to cut the deficit in half. However, the Knights had an answer in the bottom half of the inning and extended their lead to 4-1 after the sixth inning.
 
Coach's Corner
"This was a good road test for us. We were able to take advantage of our pitches and string together quality at-bats to extend our lead. Hunter (Dollander) was ultra-competitive on the mound. He and Gage (Williams) gave our offense momentum in the second game," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
 
Turning Point
The Grizzlies jumped out to a fast start in the second game, scoring two runs during the second, third and fourth innings to build a commanding 6-2 lead. Junior right fielder Nick Barnes hit a run-scoring single before coming around to score himself on a base hit from freshman designated hitter Chase Evans. That gave the visitors a 4-0 lead.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Bottom of Second
Parker Stahlman hit an infield single to open the scoring
Michael Garner was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give the Knights a 2-0 lead
 
Top of Fourth
Nick Barnes connected on a solo home run for GGC, cutting the deficit to 2-1
 
Bottom of Fourth
Michael Garner hit a RBI single to get the run back and extend Middle Georgia State's lead to two runs
 
Second Game
Top of Second
Tate Kight was hit by a pitch to give the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead
 
Top of Third
Nick Barnes brought home Griffin Keller with a run-scoring single
Chase Evans added a RBI single to pad the team's lead
 
Bottom of Third
Bucky McGlamrey connected on a two-run home run to trim the deficit to 4-2
 
Top of Fourth
Griffin Keller lined a base hit to left field to bring home Cord Johnson
Austin Bates gave the visitors a 6-2 lead with a RBI single
 
Top of Eighth
Austin Bates hit a run-scoring single through the left side of the infield to score the third and final run in the inning
 
Inside The Numbers

• GGC collected 17 hits across the twinbill, highlighted by 11 hits in the second game
• The Grizzlies' pitchers registered 15 strikeouts during Friday's victory
• Junior center fielder Cord Johnson recorded three hits in the nightcap
• Freshman reliever Gage Williams tallied his second save of the season

News & Notes

• GGC stands 11-5 in 2021; Middle Georgia State is 12-5 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 3 in the NAIA Top 25 preseason poll; Middle Georgia State stood No. 22 in the same poll
• Friday's doubleheader marked the first road games of the season for the Grizzlies

Up Next
The two teams are scheduled to play another doubleheader on Saturday, March 6, starting at 2 p.m. from the Grizzly Baseball Complex in Lawrenceville.