The Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team hit three home runs to power its way to a 9-6 victory against Oklahoma Wesleyan University in its Avista NAIA World Series opener on Friday afternoon at Harris Field in Lewiston, Idaho.

The Grizzlies (47-10) scored nine straight runs during the middle innings and got a dominant pitching performance from senior Hunter Dollander.

GGC's first round tripper came in the fifth inning when senior Griffin Keller gave the No. 5-seeded team a 3-1 lead with a two-run blast over the right field fence. It was his school-record 17th home run of this season. Keller also drew three walks in the contest.

Junior Livingston Morris drove in five runs in the victory to lead GGC's eight-hit offensive attack. He lined a two-run double with the bases loaded in the seventh inning. One inning later Morris connected on a three-run homer during a four-run frame to extend team's advantage to eight runs, 9-1. Freshman Chase Evans led off the seventh inning with a home run.

Dollander picked up his 11th victory of the season and 27th career win. The right hander struck out five batters in 8.1 innings and retired 12 straight Eagles from the second inning until the sixth inning.

Oklahoma Wesleyan (49-10) got a solo home run in the first inning from Cody Muncy to take an early 1-0 lead.

Junior Austin Bates tied the game, 1-1, with an RBI single in the third inning for GGC.

The Eagles pushed across five runs in the ninth inning to close the gap before the final out.

Friday's victory advances the Grizzlies to a winner's bracket contest on Monday, May 31, at 3 p.m. pacific time. GGC will play the winner of Saturday's contest between No. 1 seed Southeastern University (Florida) and No. 9 seed LSU Shreveport.
  "It took us a couple of innings to get going. Hunter Dollander brings big-game experience on the mound and put up seven zeros in a row to allow our offense time to breathe. We eventually got back to what we do and had competitive at-bats," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
  The Grizzlies blew open the game in the seventh inning after not scoring with the bases loaded with no outs in the sixth frame. The same situation occurred in the seventh inning. Oklahoma Wesleyan went to the bullpen to get out of the jam, but junior Livingston Morris delivered with a bases-loaded, two-run double to stretch GGC's lead to 5-1. The team would hit two home runs in the eighth inning in building a 9-1 advantage.
  Bottom of First
Cody Muncy hit a solo home run to center field to open the scoring
 
Top of Third
Austin Bates tied the game, 1-1, with an RBI single to right field
 
Top of Fifth
Griffin Keller connected on a two-run home run to right field to give the Grizzlies a 3-1 lead
 
Top of Seventh
Livingston Morris drives in two runs with a double to left field
 
Top of Eighth
Chase Evans led off the inning with a home run
Livingston Morris connected on a three-run homer to left field to cap a four-run inning
 

• The Grizzlies hit three home runs in the victory
• GGC recorded five stolen bases to increase its season total to 200
• Junior Livingston Morris drove in five runs, including a three-run homer, in Friday's contest

• GGC improves to 47-10 on the season; Oklahoma Wesleyan falls to 49-10 in 2021
• Georgia Gwinnett College is 2-2 all-time in the opening game in its World Series trips, winning its last two occasions when it was the No. 5 seed
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 6 in the final NAIA Top 25 poll; Oklahoma Wesleyan stood No. 7 in the same poll
• GGC was the No. 5 seed in the 2021 Avista NAIA World Series 10-team bracket; Oklahoma Wesleyan is the No. 4 seed

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play a winner's bracket contest at the Avista NAIA World Series on Monday, May 31, at 3 p.m. pacific time in Lewiston, Idaho.