The No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team split a pair of one-run games Saturday afternoon, defeating Talladega College (Alabama) 2-1 before falling to No. 4 William Carey University (Mississippi) 5-4 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

The Grizzlies (7-1) won three of the four games during the weekend road trip, the team's first of the season.

GGC rallied to win the opener by plating two runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Senior Blaze O'Saben hit an RBI double to left field to tie the contest. That was followed by a run-scoring single from junior Bryce Lesher that brought home O'Saben for the one-run advantage.

"We have been really good with two outs (offensively) this season," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.

The team threw out a potential game-tying run at the plate following a fielder's choice to first base.

Talladega (1-5) took a 1-0 lead following an infield RBI single from Isaac Guzman in the top of the first inning.

Senior left hander Kaleb Hill went the distance for Georgia Gwinnett College in the seven-inning contest, striking out seven batters to post his first win of the 2024 campaign.

"Kaleb relied on the defense and the defense made some great plays behind him," said Sheetinger. "(Kaleb) mixed his pitches well and got us out of some jams early to keep us in the game.

In the nightcap, two home runs were monumental in William Carey (4-2) rallying to win on its home diamond. A two-run homer tied the game, 4-4, in the sixth inning and RJ Stinson led off the seventh inning with a walk-off round tripper as the Crusaders came back from a 4-1 deficit.

Junior Joe Quelch connected on a two-run homer to left field to give GGC the three-run lead. It is the second home run of the season for the left fielder.

GGC pushed across two runs in the second inning. O'Saben hit a sacrifice fly to center field before Lesher added a run-scoring single up the middle to bring home junior Paul Winland Jr.
  "I was really proud of the effort from the guys throughout the entire weekend, playing on the road against quality teams. That is why you schedule games like this early in the season. The William Carey game had a Lewiston (site of Avista NAIA World Series) feel to it," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
  The Grizzlies mounted a two-out rally in the sixth inning to win the opener against Talladega. Senior Blaze O'Saben squared the contest, 1-1, with an RBI double to left field. He later scored on a run-scoring single by junior Bryce Lesher for the go-ahead run. GGC threw out a potential game-tying run at the plate following a fielder's choice to first base.
  Talladega Game
Bottom of Sixth
Blaze O'Saben tied the game, 1-1, with an RBI double to left field
Bryce Lesher followed with a two-out run-scoring single to bring home Blaze O'Saben for the game-winning run
 
Top of Seventh
The Grizzlies threw out the potential game-tying run at the plate following a fielder's choice ground ball
 
William Carey Game
Top of Second
Blaze O'Saben opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly to center field
Bryce Lesher collected an RBI single up the middle to score Paul Winland Jr.
 
Top of Fifth
Joe Quelch connected on a two-run home run to left field to give GGC a 4-1 lead
 
Bottom of Sixth
Brady Wilson hit a game-tying two-run home run for William Carey
 
Bottom of Seventh
RJ Stinson opened the inning with a walk-off homer to break a 4-4 tie
 

• The Grizzlies recorded seven hits in both games on Saturday
• Senior Kaleb Hill struck out seven batters in tossing the seven-inning complete game victory against Talladega
• Junior Joe Quelch hit his second home run of the 2024 season during the day

• GGC stands 7-1 on the season; Talladega is 1-5 in 2024; William Carey is 4-2 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll; William Carey stood No. 4 in the same poll
• GGC holds a 29-3 lead in the series history with Talladega; William Carey collected its first win in eight meetings against the Grizzlies

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host No. 20 Point Park University (Pennsylvania) on Friday, February 16, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at 3 p.m.