The top-seeded Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team was unable to hold onto a one-run lead late in falling 8-5 to No. 2 seed Hope International University (California) in the winner's section of the Santa Barbara Bracket in Tuesday's NAIA Opening Round games at Westmont College.

The Grizzlies (43-10) took a 5-2 lead after the top of the sixth inning before Hope International (29-13) rallied behind two runs in the sixth inning and three additional runs during the next frame.

Junior Livingston Morris hit a solo home run in the third inning after senior Griffin Keller connected on a solo home run during the first inning. That gave GGC an early 2-1 lead.

By the end of the third GGC had taken a 3-1 advantage as junior Nick Barnes had an RBI single.

A few innings later, junior Austin Bates delivered a run-scoring single to bring home sophomore Myles McKisic. A bases-loaded walk to junior Gabe Howell pushed GGC's lead to 5-2.

However, the Royals answered with two runs in the bottom half of the frame following Robert Mattei's two-run single. Hope International then benefitted from an RBI triple and an infield single to grab a 6-5 advantage in the seventh inning. A sacrifice fly later in the inning added an insurance run for a 7-5 lead.

The Royals added a solo home run in the eighth inning to complete the comeback.

Hope International outhit GGC by a 13-8 margin. Bates and Keller each recorded two hits for the Grizzlies.

GGC will need to win three straight elimination games over the next two days to win the Santa Barbara Bracket. The first elimination game will be on Wednesday, May 19, at 11 a.m. pacific time against either No. 4 seed University of Saint Katherine or Westmont. That opponent will be decided during Tuesday's final game.
  Hope International scored three times in the seventh inning to grab the lead for good. After a leadoff single, Tyler Lasch tied the game, 5-5, with an RBI triple to right field. He later scored on an infield single. A sacrifice fly later in the frame extended the Royals' lead to 7-5. That came after senior Hunter Dollander scattered eight hits across six innings and left the contest with a 5-4 lead.
  Top of First
Griffin Keller opened the scoring with a solo home run to right field
 
Bottom of First
Tony Monroy led off the game for the Royals with a home run to tie the game
 
Top of Third
Livingston Morris connected on a solo home run to right field
Nick Barnes added an RBI single to bring home Kyle Harvey
 
Top of Sixth
Austin Bates gave the Grizzlies a 4-2 lead with a run-scoring single
Gabe Howell drew a bases-loaded walk
 
Bottom of Seventh
Tyler Lasch tied the game, 5-5, with an RBI triple
Brennan McKenzie hit an infield single to give the Royals the lead for good
Demitri Colacchio added a sacrifice fly
 

• Hope International outhit GGC by a 13-8 margin in the contest
• Both starting pitchers allowed eight hits in their outings
• The Grizzlies have hit seven home runs across two games in the Santa Barbara Bracket

• GGC falls to 43-10 on the season; Hope International improves to 29-13 in 2021
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 6 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll; Hope International stood No. 14 in the same poll
• GGC is the No. 1 seed in the Santa Barbara Bracket of the 2021 NAIA Opening Round; Hope International is the No. 2 seed
• Tuesday's game marked the first meeting between the two colleges.

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play in an elimination contest on Wednesday, May 19, scheduled to start at 11 a.m. pacific time from Westmont College.