Junior Henry Daniels hit his first two home runs as a Grizzly and the 2024 season as the No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team smashed three pitches beyond the outfield fences Friday afternoon in a seven-inning 10-0 victory against No. 20 Point Park University (Pennsylvania) at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

The Grizzlies (8-1) have scored double digits in six of their nine games this spring and are averaging 10.4 runs a game for the season. The team has a .347 batting average and 2.32 earned run average.

Scoring four runs with two outs in the second inning helped GGC jump out to a 4-0 lead. Senior Blaze O'Saben, inserted into the leadoff spot in the batting order, lined an RBI single through the left side of the infield to plate the second run. Junior Braxton Meguiar followed with a two-run triple.

Daniels opened the third inning with a home run to right field. He later connected on a two-run round tripper to left field to cap a five-run sixth inning that gave the hosts a 10-0 lead. The designated hitter becomes the first Grizzly to hit multiple homers in the same game this season.

O'Saben had a two-run home run to left field earlier during the productive sixth inning. Junior Cohen Wilbanks lined a run-scoring single back up the middle of the infield. Wilbanks went 2-for-3 at the plate from the No. 9 spot in GGC's batting order.

The Grizzlies outhit Point Park by a 12-3 margin, with five players registering two hits apiece throughout the contest. Those making that achievement were junior Jackson Cobb, Meguiar, O'Saben, Wilbanks, and, of course, Daniels.

On the mound, senior Gage Williams scattered three hits and matched his season high with 12 strikeouts across six scoreless innings. He now has a 3-0 record this season. Sophomore reliever Ethan Anderson had a strikeout in a scoreless seventh inning to preserve the shutout.


  "I was really happy to see the guys create some separation early against a good team. Henry had a new bat in his hands and was swinging with confidence. We're always searching for the most effective and efficient offensive lineup. I felt we needed to make some little changes that would allow for guys to see different situations and pitches," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
  The Grizzlies scored four runs with two outs in the second inning to grab an early lead in the top-20 showdown. A throwing error on a failed pickoff attempt led to the first run being plated. Senior Blaze O'Saben followed with a run-scoring single through the left side of the infield. Junior Braxton Meguiar added a two-run triple to cap the team's scoring and provide the early 4-0 advantage.
  Bottom of Second
Blaze O'Saben gave the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead with a run-scoring single through the left side of the infield
Braxton Meguiar legged out a two-run triple to right-center field that scored two more runs
 
Bottom of Third
Henry Daniels led off the frame with a home run over the right field fence
 
Bottom of Sixth
Cohen Wilbanks opened a five-run inning with an RBI single up the middle
Blaze O'Saben connected on a two-run home run to left field to give GGC an 8-0 lead
Henry Daniels added a two-run home run to left field
 

• The Grizzlies outhit Point Park by a 12-3 margin
• Senior Gage Williams matched his season high with 12 strikeouts across six scoreless innings
• Five Grizzlies tallied two hits apiece throughout the lineup in the victory
• Junior Paul Winland Jr. successfully stole two bases on Friday

• GGC improves to 8-1 this spring; Point Park falls to 4-1 on the season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll; Point Park stood No. 20 in the same poll
• Friday's victory evened the series history between the Grizzlies and Pioneers at 2-2
• Junior Henry Daniels became the first Grizzly to hit multiple home runs in a game during the 2024 campaign

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host No. 20 Point Park University (Pennsylvania) and Toccoa Falls College (Georgia) on Saturday, February 17, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at 2 p.m.