The No. 1-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team completed its second weekend series sweep of the young season with a 7-2 victory against Midway University (Kentucky) Saturday afternoon at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

The Grizzlies (6-0) scored 38 runs during the three-game series sweep.

Senior Austin Bates led the team's 11-hit offensive attack by going 3-for-5 and driving in three runs. The catcher tied the game, 2-2, with an RBI single in the third inning. He later added a run-scoring single in the fifth inning and capped his strong offensive day with a run-scoring double in the eighth frame.

Junior Jake Defries scored three runs and added three stolen bases from the top of GGC's batting order. He opened the scoring in the first inning by stealing third base and advancing home after a throwing error by Midway's catcher.

Midway (0-7) took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning before the hosts pushed three runs across in the bottom half to regain the lead for the rest of the game. Junior Myles McKisic gave the Grizzlies a 3-2 advantage with an RBI ground out. Senior J.D. Stubbs followed with a run-scoring single to help build the team's advantage on the scoreboard.

Junior starting pitcher Gavin Heltemes struck out eight batters across four innings to pick up the victory in his 2022 debut. Sophomore Tyler Clayton went the rest of the way to pick up the save, the fourth of the season for the team.


  The Grizzlies used a three-run third inning to seize control of Saturday's series finale. Senior Austin Bates tied the game at 2-2 with a run-scoring single. An RBI ground out from junior Myles McKisic brought home sophomore Adam Alicea-Brooks before senior J.D. Stubbs added a run-scoring single as the Grizzlies took a 4-2 lead.
  Bottom of First
Jake Defries successfully stole third base and scored following a throwing error by Midway's catcher
 
Bottom of Third
Austin Bates tied the game, 2-2, with an RBI single
Myles McKisic added an RBI groundout to give the Grizzlies a 3-2 lead
J.D. Stubbs hit a run-scoring single to right field to cap the three-run inning
 
Bottom of Fourth
Austin Bates started a two-run inning with an RBI single
 
Bottom of Eighth
Austin Bates added a run-scoring double to drive in his third run of the contest
 

• The Grizzlies outhit Midway by an 11-7 margin
• Senior Austin Bates went 3-for-5 and drove in three runs for the Grizzlies
• GGC recorded eight stolen bases, led by junior Jake Defries with three steals
• GGC pitchers combined for 33 strikeouts during the three-game series sweep

• GGC improves to 6-0 on the season; Midway falls to 0-7 in 2022
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 1 in the 2022 NAIA Top 25 preseason poll
• The team has opened the 2022 campaign with a pair of three-game sweeps
• GGC has won 28 of its last 29 games

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan University on Tuesday, February 15, from the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at 3 p.m.