The Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team scored five runs over the final two innings and stranded the potential game-tying run in scoring position in the ninth inning of an 12-10 loss at Middle Georgia State University in Cochran, Georgia, on Tuesday afternoon – the team's first road midweek game of the season.

The Grizzlies (21-3) hit five home runs in the game, with two coming from senior Preseason All-American Ajay Sczepkowski, both accounting for two runs in the contest. His second blast came in the eighth inning to trim the deficit to 11-8.

Sczepkowski tied the program career record with his 39th home run as a Grizzly.

In the top of the ninth inning, junior Cohen Wilbanks lined a two-run double to bring the visitors within two runs, at 12-10. Senior Blaze O'Saben followed with an infield single and then stole second base to put the tying run into scoring position.

However, Middle Georgia State University reliever Matthew Huff got junior Braxton Meguiar to fly out to left field to end the threat and midweek contest.

GGC jumped out a 5-2 lead after O'Saben hit a solo home run in the fourth inning. Sczepkowski's first two-run homer came during the opening frame. Junior Henry Daniels smashed a home run to lead off the second inning – his third consecutive game with a blast beyond the outfield fences.

Middle Georgia State (10-12) used a five-run fifth inning to take a 7-5 advantage. Yadiel Perez hit a run-scoring single before Chaz Salter gave the Knights the lead with a two-run single down the left field line.

The hosts added four more runs in the sixth inning, with Jaiden Duarte legging out a triple to bring home two runs to extend the lead to 11-5.
  Middle Georgia State scored five runs in the fifth inning to take a 7-5 lead. The hosts added four more runs during the sixth inning. GGC mounted a rally behind a three-run eighth inning that featured two home runs. Then, in the ninth inning, junior Cohen Wilbanks hit a two-run double to cut the deficit to two runs, at 12-10. The Grizzlies would get the tying run in scoring position before a fly out to left field ended the contest.
  Top of First
Ajay Sczepkowski connected on a two-run home run
 
Top of Second
Henry Daniels led off the frame with a home run
 
Top of Fourth
Blaze O'Saben hit a solo home run that gave the Grizzlies a 5-2 lead
 
Bottom of Fifth
Yadiel Perez collected a run-scoring single
Chaz Salter hit a two-run single that put the Knights ahead 7-5
 
Bottom of Sixth
Jaiden Duarte legged out a triple to bring home two runs that extended the lead to 11-5
 
Top of Eighth
Caden Smith added a solo home run
Ajay Sczepkowski hit his second two-run home run of the game to bring the Grizzlies within 11-8
 
Top of Ninth
Cohen Wilbanks lined a two-run double to trim the deficit to two runs, at 12-10
 

• Both teams registered 11 hits in Tuesday's contest
• The Grizzlies hit five home runs, with Ajay Sczepkowski having two blasts and Henry Daniels hitting a homer for the third consecutive game
• Four GGC players had multiple-hit performances

• GGC drops to 21-3 this spring; Middle Georgia State improves to 10-12 in 2024
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll; Middle Georgia State received votes in the same poll
• Georgia Gwinnett College has an 11-8 lead in the all-time series, including a 7-4 mark in games played in Cochran, Georgia
• Senior Ajay Sczepkowski tied the program career record with 39 home runs

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Talladega College (Alabama) and Loyola University (Louisiana) on Saturday, March 16, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at 1 p.m.