The Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team split a pair of one-run seven-inning contests Friday against Toccoa Falls College (Georgia), winning the opener 5-4 before dropping the nightcap 8-7 at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

The No. 5-ranked Grizzlies (27-4) took different routes in splitting the doubleheader against Toccoa Falls (17-9), which had come into the games riding a six-game winning streak.

The hosts led the first game from the start, but had to withstand a late-inning rally to capture the first game. Then, they trailed for most of the second contest after allowing six runs in the second inning. This time GGC's comeback attempt fell one-run short.

Junior Jon Ponder connected on a home run in each contest to spark the Grizzlies' 20-hit offensive attack in the games. He led off the day with a home run before hitting a two-run round tripper to spark the Grizzlies' late-inning rally. The center fielder has now connected on nine homers this spring.

In the opener, junior Ajay Sczepkowski sparked a two-run third inning with a run-scoring ground out. Classmate Chase Evans added a run-scoring double to give GGC a 4-1 lead.

Junior Jesus Pacheco lined an RBI single to help the team build a 5-2 advantage by the sixth inning. Toccoa Falls scored two runs on Ryan McCarron's home run in the top of the seventh to threaten before GGC closed out the game.

Junior left hander Tyler Clayton scattered four hits and allowed two runs across 4.1 innings to pick up his fourth win of the season. Junior reliever Gage Williams struck out three batters in 2.2 innings to register his first save this spring.

In the nightcap, Toccoa Falls scored six runs in the second inning to grab an early 6-1 advantage. Andrew Hammerle provided the big hit with a three-run homer.

Georgia Gwinnett College attempted a rally by scoring a run in the third inning and then added two more tallies to the scoreboard on Ponder's homer an inning later. Both teams scored two runs in the fifth inning with senior Blaze O'Saben driving in a pair of runs for the hosts with a single.

Trailing 8-6 in the seventh inning, things got interesting when senior Ryan Hunt scored from first base after a single from sophomore Joe Quelch and two throwing errors on the play. Quelch advanced to third base with no outs. However, reliever Joshua Ramey got a flyout and a ground out to keep Quelch at third base. The rally was extinguished when another flyout to center field ended the contest.
  "Our players didn't come to the ballpark ready to play at our best. That fault falls on the coaching staff, which needs to do a better job getting our guys prepared to play. We took advantage of some mistakes to get an early lead in the opener," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
  The Grizzlies built a 4-2 lead through the first five innings of the opener by manufacturing runs in key moments. Sophomore Joe Quelch hit a sacrifice fly to cap a two-run first inning. Then, junior Ajay Sczepkowski added an RBI groundout to begin a two-run third inning. Junior Chase Evans hit a double to bring home another run to give GGC a 4-1 lead by the third inning.
  First Game
Bottom of First
Jon Ponder led off the game with a home run
Joe Quelch hit a sacrifice fly that brought home Ajay Sczepkowski
 
Bottom of Third
Ajay Sczepkowski hit an RBI ground out to shortstop that gave GGC a 3-1 lead
Chase Evans added a run-scoring double
 
Bottom of Sixth
Jesus Pacheco hit a run-scoring single to extend the Grizzlies' lead to 5-2
 
Second Game
Bottom of First
Braxton Meguiar connected on a solo home run to open the scoring
 
Top of Second
Andrew Hammerle hit a three-run home run to cap a six-run frame for Toccoa Falls
 
Bottom of Fourth
Jon Ponder hit a two-run home run that brought the Grizzlies within two runs, 6-4
 
Bottom of Fifth
Blaze O'Saben lined a two-run single up the middle that once again trimmed the deficit to two runs, 8-6
 
Bottom of Seventh
Joe Quelch hit a single to left field that was followed by two throwing errors that allowed Ryan Hunt to score from first base
 

• GGC tallied 10 hits in both of Friday's games
• Junior Jon Ponder hit his eighth and ninth home runs of the season
• The Grizzlies recorded five stolen bases in the first contest
• Five pitchers combined to register 12 strikeouts during the nightcap

• GGC stands 27-4 this spring, while Toccoa Falls is 17-9 on the season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 5 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
• GGC has an 11-4 lead in the series, winning seven of the last eight meetings
• The Grizzlies are 14-2 in March

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Middle Georgia State University in a nine-inning game on Saturday, March 25, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at 5 p.m.