Sam Faith connected on a two-run walk-off home run to center field with two outs in the ninth inning to give top-seeded Southeastern University (Florida) a 9-7 victory against No. 8 seed Georgia Gwinnett College late Saturday night at the Avista NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.

The Grizzlies (46-15) enjoyed a 6-0 lead in the fifth inning before seeing the Fire respond to eventually take a 7-6 lead. GGC tied the game in the top of the eighth inning with some late-inning heroics of its own. Then came Faith's decisive walk-off homer.

Back-to-home home runs from senior Livingston Morris and sophomore Chase Evans gave Georgia Gwinnett College an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Morris' blast set the program's single-season school record (19).

The fifth inning produced nine runs between the two teams with the Grizzlies pushing across four runs. An infield single from junior Blaze O'Saben scored junior Myles McKisic to begin the big offensive inning. Freshman Braxton Meguiar added a two-run single before scoring on an RBI single from Morris gave the team a 6-0 advantage.

Southeastern (55-3) responded with a five-run bottom half of the fifth frame. Gary Lora provided the big hit with a three-run home run to center field to cut the deficit to one run, 6-5.

The Fire would take a 7-6 lead two innings later following an RBI single from Faith.

However, the Grizzlies had an answer in the top of the eighth inning.

McKisic lined a base hit to left field on a 3-2 count with two outs. A defensive error in left field allowed senior pinch runner Gavin Heltemes to score from first base and square the contest at 7-7.

Then, Faith delivered Southeastern's ninth-inning heroics with two outs to advance further into the winners' bracket. Meanwhile, GGC drops into the loser's bracket, playing at 1:30 p.m. pacific time on Monday, May 30, in an elimination-round game against No. 10 seed Webber International University (Florida).

Sophomore starting pitcher Tyler Clayton struck out seven batters in 4.1 innings. Two relievers helped GGC's pitching staff record 13 strikeouts in the contest.

McKisic, Meguiar and Morris each collected two hits to lead the team's eight-hit offensive attack.
  Both teams hit two home runs, but it was Southeastern's second home run of the game that delivered the victory. Sam Faith connected on a two-run walk-off home run past the center field fence with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
  Top of First
Livingston Morris connected on a solo home run – his record-breaking 19th home run of the season
Chase Evans made it back-to-back home runs with a round tripper to center field
 
Top of Fifth
Blaze O'Saben hit an infield single to bring home Myles McKisic
Braxton Meguiar added a two-run single to left-center field to give the Grizzlies a 5-0 lead
Livingston Morris capped a four-run inning with an RBI single
 
Bottom of Fifth
Thomas Broyles lined an RBI double to score the Fire's first run
Abdel Guadalupe hit a sacrifice fly to right field to cut the deficit to 6-2
Gary Lora connected on a three-run home run during a five-run frame
 
Bottom of Seventh
Sam Faith gave the Fire a 7-6 lead with an RBI single
 
Top of Eighth
Myles McKisic tied the game, 7-7, with a single to left field to allow Gavin Heltemes to score from first base
 
Bottom of Ninth
Sam Faith hit a two-run walk-off home run for the 9-7 victory
 

• Southeastern outhit the Grizzlies by a 10-8 margin
• Senior Livingston Morris hit his 19th home run to set the program's single-season school record
• GGC's pitching staff recorded 13 strikeouts in the contest
• Four different Grizzlies were hit pitches

• GGC falls to 46-15 this spring; Southeastern improves to 55-3 on the season
• The loss broke GGC's 15-game postseason winning streak
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 10 in the final NAIA Top 25 regular season poll; Southeastern stood No. 1 in the same poll
• GGC is the No. 8 seed of the NAIA Opening Round Lawrenceville Bracket; Southeastern is the No. 1 seed in the 10-team double-elimination tournament field
• Georgia Gwinnett College leads the series history with the Fire by a 8-5 margin
• The team has a 11-7 all-time record at the Avista NAIA World Series 

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play Monday, May 30, in an elimination-round game against No. 10 seed Webber International University (Florida) at the Avista NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho, starting at 1:30 p.m. pacific time.