The Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team put double digits on the scoreboard in a pair of victories against nationally ranked teams Friday at the Cajun Collision, presented by NAIA Ball, in Sterlington, Louisiana.

The No. 2-ranked Grizzlies (6-0) opened the day by defeating No. 22 Central Methodist University (Missouri) 10-1 before recording a 15-8 triumph against No. 10 Missouri Baptist University.

Senior left-handed pitcher Tyler Clayton went the distance on the mound in the opener, striking out a career-high 14 batters over seven innings to improve to 2-0 on the season. The reigning Continental Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week topped his previous best strikeout performance of 10 punchouts that came in last Friday's 2024 season opener against Rust College (Mississippi).

Clayton scattered four hits in the dominant pitching performance.

"He's back to being 'Big Game TC,'" said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger. "His ability to compete and keep hitters off balance was special to watch. He has worked hard to get back to this point and it couldn't happen to a better player."

GGC scored five runs in the fifth inning to build a 7-0 advantage against the Eagles (5-1).

Junior Henry Daniels had an RBI double while classmate Jackson Cobb added a run-scoring single to plate Daniels in the sixth inning to stretch the team's advantage to 10-0.

In the nightcap, GGC jumped out to an 8-1 lead against Missouri Baptist (5-3) after plating six runs in the top of the second inning. Junior Braxton Meguiar opened the productive frame with an RBI single. Daniels drew a bases-loaded walk before senior Blaze O'Saben drove in a pair of runs with a single to third base.

Junior Paul Winland Jr. had consecutive two-run base hits, coming in the fifth and seventh innings. He gave the team a 13-2 lead with a two-run single in the fifth inning. Winland Jr. later legged out a double to plate a pair of runs, increasing the team's lead to 15-8.

The third baseman went 3-for-4 with five RBI against Missouri Baptist.

O'Saben collected two hits in the victory. Senior Ajay Sczepkowski and Daniels each scored four times and drew three walks for the Grizzlies.

Senior right hander Gage Williams improved to 2-0 on the season, recording six strikeouts in 4.2 innings against the Spartans.
  "I was very impressed with how our players answered the bell in a prestigious tournament. Tyler (Clayton) set the tone in the opener. The guys played hard for each other and found ways to get out of jams while continuing to create separation against two quality teams," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
  The Grizzlies used a big offensive inning to create separation from both opponents in Friday's victories at the Cajun Collision. GGC took advantage of two Central Methodist defensive errors to plate five runs in the fifth inning to build a 7-0 advantage. Then, the team scored six times in the top of the second inning to defeat Missouri Baptist in a top-10 showdown in the nightcap.
  Central Methodist Game
Top of Fourth
Joe Quelch scored following a passed ball
Paul Winland Jr. hit an RBI single to bring home Jackson Cobb
 
Top of Fifth
Joe Quelch brought home a pair of runs following an error at shortstop
Ajay Sczepkowski drove in two runs following the Eagles' second error in the frame
Ajay Sczepkowski scored on a passed ball to extend the lead to 7-0
 
Top of Sixth
Henry Daniels hit a run-scoring double to right field
Jackson Cobb added an RBI single to plate the team's 10th run of the contest
 
Missouri Baptist Game
Top of First
Henry Daniels hit a single to right field to score Ajay Sczepkowski
Jackson Cobb gave the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead with an RBI double
 
Top of Second
Braxton Meguiar hit a run-scoring single to open a six-run frame
Blaze O'Saben added a two-run single to extend the lead to 8-1
 
Top of Fourth
Paul Winland Jr. collected an RBI single to right field
 
Top of Fifth
Paul Winland Jr. hit a two-run single to bring home Ajay Sczepkowski and Henry Daniels, giving GGC a 13-2 lead
 
Top of Seventh
Paul Winland Jr. brought home two more runs with a double
 

• The Grizzlies collected 21 hits across Friday's two victories
• Junior Paul Winland Jr. went 3-for-4 with five RBI against Missouri Baptist
• Junior Joe Quelch scored three runs in the first contest Friday
• Senior left hander Tyler Clayton set a career high with 14 strikeouts against Central Methodist

• GGC improves to 6-0 on the season; Central Methodist is 5-1 in 2024; Missouri Baptist is 5-3 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll; Missouri Baptist stood No. 10; and Central Methodist was No. 22 in the same poll
• GGC played its first road games of the 2024 season Friday
• The team has won all three meetings against CMU, with each meeting coming on a neutral field; GGC is 4-0 all-time against Missouri Baptist

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play Talladega College (Alabama) and No. 4 William Carey University (Mississippi) on Saturday, February 10, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The games are set at 1 p.m. (Talladega) and 4 p.m. (William Carey).