The Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team connected on four home runs in defeating Fisher College (Massachusetts) 12-4 on Sunday to advance to the championship round of the Association of Independent Institutions 2021 Baseball Championship at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

Junior Gabe Howell hit a pair of two-run home runs and drove in five runs to pace the top-seeded Grizzlies (41-9) in the game.

The shortstop connected on a two-run homer to left field in the third inning before hitting a towering two-run round tripper over the same left field fence as part of a four-run fourth inning.

By advancing to the championship round of the A.I.I. tournament, the Grizzlies have secured an automatic bid to the NAIA national tournament. They will play again Monday, May 10, at 11 a.m. against an opponent to be determined through Sunday's elimination-round games.

GGC took a 2-0 first-inning lead following a solo home run from junior Livingston Morris. The tournament hosts' lead grew to 9-0 by the fifth inning before both teams pushed three runs across in the sixth inning.

Junior starting pitcher Kevin Kyle struck out eight batters across seven innings to improve to 8-0 on the season. Sophomore Klay Allen tossed two scoreless innings to secure the victory.

The Grizzlies outhit Fisher (30-19) by a 15-9 margin, with five multiple-hit performances. Senior Griffin Keller legged out two doubles and scored three runs. Senior Kyle Harvey and freshman Chase Evans each collected two hits. Sophomore Jake Defries and Howell rounded out the balanced offensive attack also with two hits.

 

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: @GGCAthletics picks up a win over @FisherFalcons in Sunday's winner's bracket contest. Video provided by the Grizzly Digital Network. pic.twitter.com/chbg31iK4U

— A.I.I. Sports (@AII_Sports) May 9, 2021

  "There were a few at bats where we could have executed better today, but overall I have been very pleased with the players' efforts. Our pitching situation is in very good shape heading into the championship round," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
  Leading 4-0 through three innings, the Grizzlies took a commanding lead by doubling their scoring production with a four-run fourth frame. Sophomore Jake Defries legged out an RBI triple to open the big inning. Senior Griffin Keller followed with a run-scoring single to bring home Defries. Then, junior Gabe Howell hit his second home run of the game with a towering two-run blast past the left field fence. The big fourth inning gave the Grizzlies a commanding 8-0 advantage.
  Bottom of First
Gabe Howell opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly to bring home Jake Defries
Livingston Morris connected on a solo home run to left-center field
 
Bottom of Third
Gabe Howell hit a two-run home run to left field
 
Bottom of Fourth
Jake Defries extended GGC's lead to 5-0 with an RBI triple
Griffin Keller brought home Jake Defries with a run-scoring single
Gabe Howell hit his second home run of the game with a two-run blast to left field
 
Bottom of Sixth
Austin Bates drove in a pair of runs with an infield base hit
 

• The Grizzlies recorded 15 hits in the victory
• GGC collected eight extra-base hits: three doubles, one triple and four home runs
• Junior pitcher Kevin Kyle registered eight strikeouts
• The Grizzlies had four stolen bases Sunday

• GGC improves to 40-9 in 2021; Fisher stands 30-20 on the season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 8 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
• The team is the No. 1 seed in the A.I.I. Baseball Championship; Fisher is the No. 2 seed
• Sunday's meeting was the fifth contest between the two colleges this season, all wins by GGC

Georgia Gwinnett College advances to the championship round of the Association of Independent Institutions 2021 Baseball Championship on Monday, May 10, at 11 a.m. from the Grizzly Baseball Complex.