The No. 5-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team scored 31 runs in splitting games against a pair of NAIA top-10 opponents Saturday at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

GGC (25-3) hit two early home runs and later used a productive eight-run sixth inning to defeat No. 8 University of Mobile (Alabama) 17-3 in seven innings. Then, No. 2 Tennessee Wesleyan University scored 12 runs in the fifth inning to rally past the Grizzlies 21-14.

Junior Ajay Sczepkowski connected on a pair of home runs against Mobile, a two-run homer in the first inning before adding a second two-run round tripper during a four-run third inning. That helped the hosts build a 7-1 lead.

The outfielder has recorded three multi-home run games this spring and now leads the team with 12 homers.

GGC tallied 14 hits in the victory with sophomore Brett Dingess and Sczepkowski each having three hits. Junior Cohen Wilbanks joined sophomores Braxton Meguiar and Kyle Norton with collecting two hits apiece.

Sophomore starting pitcher Cameron Repetti struck out nine batters and scattered six hits across six strong innings to pick up the victory and improve his record to 5-0 for the season.

In the nightcap, GGC once again started fast as sophomore Caden Smith connected on a grand slam to cap a six-run opening frame. However, Tennessee Wesleyan (22-4) got a pair of home runs to cut the lead in half at 6-3.

Dingess provided a two-run double with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning as the Grizzlies took an 8-3 lead.

However, the Bulldogs would account for 12 runs in the fifth inning to grab the lead. Marco Martinez provided two hits to score a pair of runs in the inning. His first base hit, a double, tied the game at 8-8. GGC also committed two errors in the decisive frame.

The Grizzlies got within five runs, 18-13, in the bottom of the seventh inning after run-scoring base hits from Meguiar and junior Devin Warner. However, TWU added three insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning to seal the victory that avenged an earlier 8-4 home field setback to GGC in 11 innings on February 28.


  The Grizzlies scored early and often in defeating Mobile 17-3 in Saturday's opening game. Junior Ajay Sczepkowski connected on a pair of home runs in his first two plate appearances as the hosts built a 7-1 lead through three innings. The team added two more runs in the fifth inning before capping the productive offensive game with eight runs in the sixth inning. GGC collected 14 hits to score its 17 runs in the victory.
  Mobile Game
Bottom of First
Ajay Sczepkowski connected on a two-run home run for his 11th home run of the season
Kyle Norton lined a run-scoring single to right field that gave the Grizzlies a 3-0 lead
 
Bottom of Third
Ajay Sczepkowski hit a two-run homer to left field for his third multi-home run game of the season
Brett Dingess legged out an RBI triple that brought home Devin Warner
Kyle Norton hit a sacrifice fly to center field to cap a four-run frame
 
Bottom of Sixth
Blaze O'Saben hit a run-scoring single to give GGC an 11-3 lead
Jon Ponder drove in a pair of runs with a single to left field
Devin Warner drew a bases-loaded walk
Brett Dingess hit a sacrifice fly to cap an eight-run inning
 
Tennessee Wesleyan Game
Bottom of First
Caden Smith connected on a grand slam to close out a six-run inning for GGC
 
Top of Second
Preston Welchel hit a two-run home run for TWU
 
Top of Third
Andre Tarver led off the inning with a home run for the visiting Bulldogs
 
Bottom of Fourth
Brett Dingess lined a two-run double with two outs to extend GGC's lead to 8-3
 
Top of Fifth
Marco Martinez hit a two-run double to right field to tie the game at 8-8
Preston Welchel added an RBI double to right-center field
Marco Martinez drove in a pair of runs with a single through the right side of the infield to cap a 12-run inning for TWU
 
Bottom of Seventh
Braxton Meguiar hit a run-scoring double down the left field line to score Jesus Pacheco
Devin Warner added an RBI single to bring the Grizzlies within five runs, 18-13
 

• GGC tallied 14 hits in both games on Saturday
• Junior Ajay Sczepkowski had his third multi-home run game with two round trippers against Mobile
• Sophomore Cameron Repetti recorded nine strikeouts against Mobile to improve to 5-0 on the season

• GGC stands 25-3 this spring; Mobile is 20-4 in 2023; Tennessee Wesleyan stands 22-4 on the season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 5 in the first NAIA Top 25 poll of the regular season; Tennessee Wesleyan stood No. 2 and Mobile was No. 8 in the same poll
• The Grizzlies are 23-3 at home this spring

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to travel to No. 19 Bryan College (Tennessee) on Tuesday, March 21, from Dayton, Tennessee, starting at 4 p.m.