The No. 7-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team passed this season's first road test by scoring four runs in the top of the 11th inning to defeat No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan University 8-4 on Tuesday afternoon in Athens, Tennessee.

The Grizzlies (13-2) put together four hits with one out in the 11th inning to tally four runs. Junior Devin Warner lined an RBI double to right field to bring home sophomore pinch runner Brett Dingess as the Grizzlies took the lead for the third time in the game.

Junior pinch hitter Drew Stubbs then added a run-scoring single through the right side of the infield to score Warner. Sophomore Kyle Norton put the finishing touch on the rally with a two-run single.

Tennessee Wesleyan (13-1) would respond by loading the bases with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning. However, senior left-handed reliever Jaelin Sewell got Dan Sayre to ground out to second base to seal the victory.

The Bulldogs forced extra innings by scoring two runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game, 4-4. A wild pitch brought home Carson Ford before Cayle Webster delivered a run-scoring single to left field.

Senior reliever Garrett Houston tossed a scoreless 10th inning to set the stage for GGC's big offensive frame in the top of 11th frame.

"We didn't ride the rollercoaster of emotions because we believe in each other. It was good to score the first run to take the lead in the 11th, but then scoring three more runs gave us a lot of confidence," said Warner.

GGC scored its first four runs through home runs. Warner connected on a solo home run in the second inning. Junior Ajay Sczepkowski smashed a two-run home run to left field in the sixth inning to give the team a 3-2 advantage. Warner then led off the seventh inning with his second round tripper of the game for a 4-2 GGC lead.

Warner and Sczepkowski have each had multiple home runs games this season.

"I was seeing the ball really well today and all of my hits came with two strikes. I stuck to my approach to compete and put the bat on the ball," noted Warner about his big offensive day.

GGC sophomore starting pitcher Ben Harris scattered five hits and struck out 11 batters in going a season-high seven innings on the mound. The right hander retired 12 of the final 14 batters he faced but failed to benefit from the decision.

"I started to feel more comfortable as the game went along," said Harris. "I've got one of the best defenses in the nation behind me. I was aggressive knowing that if the ball was put into the play, they were going to make it."
Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger remarked, "Ben pounded the strike zone all day. He was able to locate and throw multiple pitches for a strike. He went to another level of competitiveness today."

GGC had lost nine of the last 10 games against Tennessee Wesleyan entering Tuesday. The two teams are scheduled to play a three-game series in Lawrenceville on March 17-18.
  "That was a great college baseball game. Winning on the road is never easy and it was a great learning opportunity. We were behind each other throughout the entire game. The guys weren't satisfied with just one run in the 11th inning. We went back to being aggressive at the plate and that belief worked its way throughout the lineup," said Jeremy Sheetinger.
  After allowing the tying runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Grizzlies grinded out a road win by scoring four runs in the top of the 11th inning. Junior Devin Warner hit a go-ahead double to right field for the first run of the frame. Junior pinch hitter Drew Stubbs added a run-scoring single through the right side of the infield. Then, sophomore Kyle Norton hit a two-run single to plate the final insurance runs.
  Top of Second
Devin Warner hit a solo home run to right field
 
Bottom of Third
Dan Sayre hit a sacrifice fly to tie the contest at 1-1
 
Bottom of Fifth
Preston Welchel hit an RBI triple to center field to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 advantage
 
Top of Sixth
Ajay Sczepkowski gave the Grizzlies a 3-2 lead with a two-run home run to left field
 
Top of Seventh
Devin Warner connected on his second homer of the game to open the inning
 
Bottom of Ninth
Cayle Webster hit a game-tying RBI single to square the contest at 4-4
 
Top of 11th
Devin Warner lined a run-scoring to right field to bring home Brett Dingess for the go-ahead run
Drew Stubbs added an RBI single through the right side of the infield
Kyle Norton hit a two-run single to give the Grizzlies an 8-4 lead
 

• Both teams registered 11 hits in the contest
• Five GGC pitchers combined for 20 strikeouts, highlighted by sophomore starting pitcher Ben Harris with 11 strikeouts
• Seven of GGC's 11 hits went for extra bases
• Sophomore Caden Smith drew a pair of walks on Tuesday

• GGC improves to 13-2 on the season; Tennessee Wesleyan falls to 13-1 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 7 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll; Tennessee Wesleyan stood No. 3 in the same poll
• The team went 3-3 in extra-inning games last season
• Georgia Gwinnett College played its first road game of the 2023 season

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Clarke University (Iowa) on Friday, March 3, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at 6 p.m.