The No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team extended its winning streak to six games Saturday afternoon after coming out on top of two one-run games, both with 4-3 scores, against Saint Xavier University (Illinois) on Doug Court Appreciation Day at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

The Grizzlies (12-1) got a walk-off RBI single from junior Joe Quelch to win the opener in seven innings. That came after junior Caden Smith hit a game-tying solo homer with two outs in the sixth frame.

Junior reliever Wyatt Dodgens struck out the side in the top of the seventh inning to maintain the momentum and set up Quelch's two-out single with the bases loaded that completed the comeback.

In the nightcap, senior left hander Kaleb Hill went the distance on the mound and recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts. His final punchout of the contest stranded the potential game-tying run at third base after the Cougars (4-5) got a two-run double to close within a run with one out in the top of the seventh inning.

Junior Cohen Wilbanks hit a go-ahead solo home run as part of a two-run fifth inning as the hosts built a 3-1 lead.

Georgia Gwinnett College's Office of Athletics honored Court for his 10 years of service and contributions to the athletic department. During pregame festivities it was announced that the Assistant Athletics Director for Operations is the first inductee into the GGC Athletics Hall of Fame.


  "We did a good job of pulling out a couple of tight ballgames. I was proud of our effort and our commitment to playing Grizzly Baseball. We talk a lot within our program about our player's having the ability to show up when needed. Caden (Smith) and Cohen (Wilbanks) did exactly that in each game. The (Doug Court Appreciation Day) pregame ceremony was one of the coolest things I've been privileged to participate in. Some of our players are brand new while others have been around Doug a long time, but it really resonated with everyone on the team that this was a big moment in department history," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
The Grizzlies used late-inning heroics to pull out a pair of one-run victories Saturday. They rallied to win the opener before closing the door on a potential Saint Xavier comeback bid in the second game. Junior Caden Smith hit a game-tying solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. One inning later, junior Joe Quelch delivered a walk-off RBI single, with two outs and the bases loaded, to win the opener 4-3. Then, after Saint Xavier scored two runs to get within 4-3, senior left hander Kaleb Hill got a strikeout for the final out to strand the potential game-tying run at third base in the nightcap.
  First Game
Bottom of Third
Henry Daniels tied the game, 1-1, with a run-scoring single to right field
 
Bottom of Fifth
Henry Daniels hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Ajay Sczepkowski
 
Top of Sixth
Evan Orzech hit a run-scoring single to right field to give the Cougars a 3-2 lead
 
Bottom of Sixth
Caden Smith connected on a home run to right field with two outs to tie the game at 3-3
 
Bottom of Seventh
Joe Quelch hit a walk-off RBI single with two outs and the bases loaded for the winning margin
 
Second Game
Bottom of Fifth
Cohen Wilbanks hit a solo home run to give the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead
Blaze O'Saben scored on a wild pitch following a walk to Ajay Sczepkowski
 
Bottom of Sixth
Caden Smith hit a sacrifice fly to center field to extend the lead to 4-1
 
Top of Seventh
Konner Hutchings lined a two-run double as Saint Xavier trimmed the deficit to 4-3
Kaleb Hill struck out Nick Altobelli to strand the potential game-tying run at third base
 

• The Grizzlies registered 15 hits across the doubleheader sweep
• Senior left hander Kaleb Hill struck out 12 batters in the complete-game victory
• Juniors Caden Smith and Cohen Wilbanks hit their first home runs of the season on Saturday
• Senior center fielder Ajay Sczepkowski recorded four putouts during the second contest

• GGC improves to 13-1 in 2024; Saint Xavier falls to 4-5 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll
• Georgia Gwinnett College has won all six meetings against the Cougars

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to conclude the weekend series with a single game against Saint Xavier University (Illinois) on Sunday, February 25, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at noon.