The Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team rode the left arm of freshman Tyler Clayton and bats of juniors Nick Barnes and Gabe Howell to earn another trip to the Avista NAIA World Series with a 5-2 victory against Hope International University (California) on Thursday to capture the Opening Round's Santa Barbara Bracket at Westmont College in California.

Top-seeded GGC won three straight elimination games to secure the program's fourth Avista NAIA World Series appearance and third straight.

Two days after suffering a loss to the No. 2 seed Royals in a relief appearance, Clayton shined on the same mound with a complete-game performance that allowed just two runs and eight hits, and featured four strikeouts and two walks.

"This is the best feeling ever to get the ball in a game like this. I pounded the zone all day and let the defense behind me make plays, said Clayton, who improved to 4-2 on the season.

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies' offense connected early with a big second inning. Barnes connected on a solo home run over the left field fence to open the scoring. The outfielder hit five home runs in Santa Barbara Bracket play, spreading a round tripper across four of GGC's five games.

Howell also provided a big hit in the inning, with a two-run double stretching the advantage to 4-0. He and senior Griffin Keller each had two hits in the game – among the team's 12-hit effort.

Hope International (29-15) got a run back in the top of the third inning on a base hit by Tony Monroy.

However, GGC answered with a sacrifice fly from freshman Chase Evans bringing home Barnes with a key insurance run in the sixth inning.

The Royals threatened in the ninth inning by scoring a run and bringing the potential game-tying run to the plate. Clayton proceeded to get a fielder's choice ground ball to Howell for the final out that sent the Grizzlies to Lewiston, Idaho, for the 10-team NAIA World Series, with games scheduled to begin Friday, May 28.

GGC has also advanced to the World Series in 2019, 2018 and 2014, reaching the semifinal round during their two most recent visits.
 
"Tyler was strong all day. The way he was pitching, and with the lead, led us to keep him on the mound deep into the game. We trust our guys. The first team to score was going to have a big advantage. The goal of winning the Opening Round never changed, just our path was different. This is the toughest team I have ever coached," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
 
Freshman left-handed pitcher Tyler Clayton made the early offense stand up for the Grizzlies as he continued to keep the Royals off the scoreboard in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. He crossed the 100-pitch mark with the final out in the eighth inning. Clayton worked around three base hits in the ninth inning, but only allowed one run to score. Hope International brought the potential game-tying run to the plate. The lefty got a ground ball to shortstop Gabe Howell to record the final out with the fielder's choice play at second base.
 
Bottom of Second
Nick Barnes opened the scoring with his a solo home run to left field
Gabe Howell extended GGC's lead to 4-0 with a two-run double
 
Bottom of Sixth
Chase Evans hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Nick Barnes to give the Grizzlies a 5-1 lead
 
Top of Ninth
Tyler Clayton got a fielder's choice to shortstop for a force out at second base to end the contest and seal the Opening Round championship game victory
 

• The Grizzlies outhit the Royals by a 12-8 margin
• Junior Nick Barnes hit his fifth home run of the Santa Barbara Bracket with a round tripper in the second inning
• Senior Griffin Keller and junior Gabe Howell each recorded two hits for the Grizzlies

• GGC improves to 46-10 in 2021; Hope International ends the season with a 29-15 record
• GGC was the final team to punch one of the 10 tickets to the 2021 Avista NAIA World Series
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 6 in the final NAIA Top 25 poll; Hope International stood No. 14 in the same poll
• GGC was the No. 1 seed in the Santa Barbara Bracket of the 2021 NAIA Opening Round; Hope International was the No. 2 seed

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to compete at the Avista NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho, with games to begin on Friday, May 28.