The No. 9-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team struck early and often, accounting for four runs in the first and second innings to defeat Johnson University (Tennessee) 14-0 in Friday afternoon's opener of a weekend series at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

The Grizzlies (24-7) set a new program record with their seventh shutout of the season. The team has recorded three straight shutouts this spring.

Junior right fielder Nick Barnes drove in three runs, including two on a single in the second inning, as part of a 2-for-3 hitting performance at the plate. Junior Livingston Morris also collected two hits and scored twice. Meanwhile, senior Kyle Harvey added two hits, while freshman Josh Davis registered three RBI to lead GGC's productive 10-hit offensive attack.

GGC added six more runs to its 8-0 lead in the fourth inning. Senior Griffin Keller and Davis each drove in two runs with doubles in the frame.

Senior pitcher Hunter Dollander improved to 7-1 on the season, striking out seven batters and scattering two hits across four innings. Freshman Warren Stovall joined sophomores Rob Hamby and Alex Friesen in preserving the shutout with scoreless innings in relief.


 
"This series offers a great growth opportunity for the guys to play to our Grizzly standard each time they step out on the diamond. We got some of our bullpen pitchers some work, and it also was good to see a lot of guys get a chance to swing the bat," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
 
The Grizzlies removed any suspense by pushing across four runs in the first and second innings. Junior Nick Barnes brought home a pair of runs with a single in the second inning. Sacrifice flies from junior Austin Bates and Barnes in the first inning surrounded an RBI single from junior Livingston Morris. GGC led 8-0 after those productive opening frames.
 
Bottom of First
Austin Bates hit a sacrifice fly to left field that opened a four-run inning
Livingston Morris brought home Griffin Keller with a RBI single
Nick Barnes added a sacrifice fly to give the Grizzlies another run
Kyle Harvey hit an infield single to score Jake Defries for a 4-0 lead
 
Bottom of Second
Nick Barnes hit a two-run single to highlight another four-run inning
 
Bottom of Fourth
Josh Davis drove in a pair of runs with a double
Griffin Keller added a two-run double
 

• The Grizzlies outhit Johnson by a 10-4 margin
• Senior Hunter Dollander recorded seven strikeouts to improve to 7-1 on the season
• Junior Nick Barnes went 2-for-3, drove in three runs and scored twice in the win

• GGC improves to 24-7 this spring; Johnson University drops to 7-24
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 9 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
• GGC set a new single-season record with seven shutouts, including shutouts in its last three games

Georgia Gwinnett College and Johnson University (Tennessee) will square off again in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 3, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at 2 p.m.