Four runs scored in the first inning led the No. 8-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team to a 12-4 victory against No. 25 University of the Cumberlands (Kentucky) in the opener of two Saturday afternoon games in Williamsburg, Kentucky.

The Grizzlies (22-8) lost the nightcap 6-0 to Point Park University (Pennsylvania).

GGC hit two home runs in the victory with solo round trippers from freshman Braxton Meguiar and senior J.D. Stubbs being their first of the season.

Senior Austin Bates lined an RBI double down the left field line to open the scoring in the first inning. Two runs came across to score on a strikeout as a passed ball and a throwing error on the same play allowed the two base runners to touch home plate. Sophomore Chase Evans gave the Grizzlies the 4-0 lead with a run-scoring single.

Two runs were added with two outs in the second inning as the visitors took a 6-0 lead. Bates hit a run-scoring single up the middle before junior Jake Defries added an RBI triple.

Home runs by Meguiar in the fourth inning and Stubbs in the seventh inning extended GGC's lead to 9-2. The Grizzlies pushed three more runs across in the eighth inning to account for 12 runs on 15 hits in the contest.

Senior starting pitcher Gavin Heltemes struck out 10 batters and allowed one earned run across seven quality innings to improve to 4-0 on the season.

In Saturday's second game, Jaden Campbell hit a three-run homer in the second inning and Point Park added one run in the third and fourth frames to build a 5-0 lead. The Pioneers outhit the Grizzlies 14-6 in the contest.
  Scoring four runs in the first inning, GGC jumped out to a 6-0 lead against No. 25 Cumberlands. Senior Austin Bates hit a run-scoring double to open the big frame. Two runs were added on a strikeout with a passed ball allowed freshman Braxton Meguiar to score, while a throwing error on the same play also brought home sophomore Adam Alicea-Brooks. Sophomore Chase Evans capped the team's fast start with an RBI single.
  Cumberlands Game
Top of First
Austin Bates opened the scoring with an RBI double down the left field line
A pair of runs scored following a strikeout as a passed ball allowed Braxton Meguiar to score and a throwing error brought home Adam Alicea-Brooks
Chase Evans added a run-scoring single to give the Grizzlies a 4-0 lead
 
Top of Second
Austin Bates lined a two-out RBI single up the middle
Jake Defries legged out a double to bring home the team's sixth run of the game
 
Top of Fourth
Braxton Meguiar connected on a solo home run to left field to give the Grizzlies a 7-1 lead
 
Top of Seventh
J.D. Stubbs hit a solo home run to left field
 
Top of Eighth
Jake Defries drove in a pair of runs as the lead grew to 11-2
 
Point Park Game
Bottom of Second
Jared Campbell hit a three-run home run
 
Bottom of Third
Isaac Santana added an RBI single
 
Bottom of Fourth
Gianmarco Marcelletti extended the lead to 5-0 with a run-scoring double
 

• The Grizzlies recorded 15 hits in the victory against Cumberlands
• GGC tallied five extra-base hits in the first game, led by two home runs and two doubles
• The team's pitching staff combined to register 19 strikeouts on Saturday
• Senior Gavin Heltemes struck out 10 batters in earning the victory in the first game on Saturday

• GGC stands 22-8 in 2022; Cumberlands drops to 20-11 on the season; Point Park improves to 18-7 on the season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 8 in the latest NAIA Top 25 regular-season poll; Cumberlands stood No. 25 in the same poll; Point Park received votes in the latest poll
• GGC now leads the series history with Cumberlands 2-1, while Point Park won both games this weekend in the first meeting between the two colleges

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to travel to the University of Tennessee Southern on Friday, April 1, from Pulaski, Tennessee, starting at 6 p.m.