The nationally ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team took different routes to record two victories Saturday that completed a clean sweep of the first Continental Athletic Conference Invitational at the Grizzly Baseball Complex – extending its winning streak to a nation's best 17 straight games.

Scoring runs in every inning, the Grizzlies (23-2) opened the day with a convincing 16-1 triumph against Fisher College (Massachusetts). Then, after trailing 3-0, the team had six hits to score five runs during the sixth inning to rally past Iowa Wesleyan University 13-3 in the nightcap.

GGC outscored the opposition 53-5 to win all four games during the weekend invitational.

Junior Ajay Sczepkowski connected on a two-run home run over the center field fence to tie the game against Iowa Wesleyan at 3-3 during the pivotal sixth inning. Until that point GGC had only registered one hit and two base runners.

A few batters later, sophomore Kyle Norton lined a run-scoring single to left field to give the Grizzlies their first lead. Senior Blaze O'Saben followed with an infield single to plate another run.

Junior Jon Ponder led off the seventh inning with a home run. Norton added his second RBI of the game with a single to extend the lead to 7-3.

The Grizzlies scored six runs in the eighth frame to seal the victory. Sophomore Braxton Meguiar hit a two-run single to left field. Sophomore Brett Dingess added an RBI single before O'Saben drove in a pair of runs with a single up the middle to end the contest.

Senior reliever Garrett Houston tossed two scoreless innings in relief to improve to 2-0 on the season. Classmates Jaelin Sewell and Jonathan Haab each recorded scoreless relief efforts to maintain the lead. Sophomore Gabe White allowed two hits across four innings while making his first start of the season.

Earlier in the day, Sczepkowski hit a two-run home run in the first inning against Fisher. He later added an RBI triple during the third inning as the team's advantage grew to 8-0. Meguiar scored four times after drawing three walks and hitting a double.

Norton went 2-for-3 at the plate while junior Cohen Wilbanks drove in a pair of runs and had two hits in the victory.

Junior left hander Tyler Clayton struck out eight batters and scattered six hits in the complete-game victory to improve his record to 3-1 on the season.


  "We accomplished our goals for this weekend and established dominance in our conference. Our guys answered the bell and challenge late in the second game. Our guys really felt the momentum shift and then ran with it through the late innings in a big way," said Jeremy Sheetinger.
  The Grizzlies found themselves trailing for the first time in the CAC Invitational, 3-0, before making an adjustment in the sixth inning against Iowa Wesleyan starting pitcher Pedro Ramirez. A leadoff single by junior Jesus Pacheco started the rally. That was followed by a one-out walk to put runners on third and first bases. Ramirez was called for his second balk of the inning to bring Pacheco home with the first run of the frame. Then, junior Ajay Sczepkowski delivered a crushing two-run homer over the center field fence to tie the game. Sophomore Kyle Norton and senior Blaze O'Saben collected run-scoring singles to plate two additional runs and give the hosts a 5-3 lead.
  Fisher Game
Bottom of First
Ajay Sczepkowski connected on a two-run home run
 
Bottom of Second
Brett Dingess hit a run-scoring single that extended GGC's lead to 5-0
 
Bottom of Third
Ajay Sczepkowski legged out an RBI triple that brought home Braxton Meguiar
 
Bottom of Fourth
Cohen Wilbanks hit a run-scoring single that gave the Grizzlies a 9-1 lead
 
Bottom of Fifth
Kyle Norton lined an RBI double that scored Brody Parkerson
 
Bottom of Sixth
Ryan Hunt hit an RBI triple that scored a pair of runs
 
Iowa Wesleyan Game
Bottom of Sixth
Ajay Sczepkowski hit a game-tying home run to center field
Kyle Norton lined a run-scoring single to left field that gave GGC a 4-3 lead
Blaze O'Saben hustled for an infield single that brought home the fifth run of the inning
 
Bottom of Seventh
Jon Ponder opened the inning with a home run to left-center field
Kyle Norton added an RBI single that brought home Braxton Meguiar
 
Bottom of Eighth
Braxton Meguiar drove in a pair of runs with a single to left field
 

• The Grizzlies collected 29 hits across Saturday's two games, highlighted by 16 hits in the comeback effort against Iowa Wesleyan
• Sophomore Kyle Norton went 5-for-7 and drove in four runs
• Junior Tyler Clayton tossed his team-leading second complete game of the season
• GGC recorded eight stolen bases against Iowa Wesleyan

• GGC improves to 23-2 in 2023; Fisher stands 4-10 this spring; Iowa Wesleyan is 5-15 on the season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 5 in the first NAIA Top 25 poll of the regular season
• The team won all 10 games during the home stand
• GGC will be hosting the Continental Athletic Conference Baseball Championship from May 6-8

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play its second road game of the season Tuesday, March 14, at Middle Georgia State University in Cochran, Georgia, starting at 3 p.m.