Three home runs propelled the No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team to rally past University of St. Francis (Illinois) for a 11-8 nightcap victory that split Saturday's doubleheader at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

The Fighting Saints took the opener 4-3 behind Ryan Daly's dazzling complete-game pitching performance. The right hander struck out 14 batters across the seven-inning contest.

Junior Joe Quelch hit a solo home run for GGC in each contest Saturday. He also provided the go-ahead RBI single that broke a 5-5 deadlock in the fifth inning of the second contest.

"Joe is evaluating himself and how he can be better for our team. That hard work is paying off," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.

GGC (15-2) fell behind 5-0 in the nightcap after St. Francis scored four runs in the first inning and an additional run in the top of the second inning.

However, the hosts started a comeback bid with junior Caden Smith connecting on a solo homer to right field in the bottom half of the second inning. Classmate Brody Parkerson lined an RBI single to left field later in the frame.

The Grizzlies tied the contest, at 5-5, in the third inning. Junior Jackson Cobb hit a two-run single up the middle that scored juniors Henry Daniels and Paul Winland Jr. for game-tying effort.

Quelch's run-scoring single to third base gave the team a 6-5 lead before the Fighting Saints (2-5) opened the sixth inning with a home run from John McGuire to tie the contest once again, this time at 6-6.

Georgia Gwinnett College closed out the game with five unanswered runs. Junior Braxton Meguiar hit a run-scoring single to put the Grizzlies ahead for good at 7-6 in the sixth inning. Quelch connected on his team-leading fifth homer one inning later. Winland Jr. added a towering two-run home run to center field as part of a three-run eighth inning.

Senior left hander Tyler Clayton struck out seven batters across six innings in a relief appearance to improve to 4-0 this spring. Junior Wyatt Dodgens tossed two scoreless innings to pick up his first save of the season.

In the opener, Quelch connected on a home run in the second inning. Junior Peyton Peoples scored on a wild pitch to give GGC an early 2-1 lead one inning later.

A three-run fifth inning gave St. Francis the lead for good. Two runs were plated following wild pitches and a GGC fielding error allowed for the Illinois visitors to take a 4-2 lead.

The Grizzlies attempted a comeback as Daniels hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to one run, at 4-3. However, Daly got a strikeout to strand a potentially go-ahead run in scoring position. The right hander struck out the side in the seventh inning to secure the victory.


  "We're learning through the game. The first game didn't go our way, but we bounced back in a come-from-behind moment. I'm happy with how we responded in the second game. Our short game (hitting singles and doubles) created some big innings," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
  After dropping the first contest and finding themselves down 5-0 early in the nightcap, the Grizzlies quickly evened the score. Junior Caden Smith hit a solo home run as part of a two-run second inning. Junior Jackson Cobb added a game-tying, two-run single in the third inning. GGC took its first lead of the contest, at 6-5, on an infield RBI single from junior Joe Quelch, who went 2-for-5 at the plate in the victory.
  First Game
Bottom of Second
Joe Quelch connected on a solo home run over the left field fence
 
Bottom of Fourth
Peyton Peoples scored on a wild pitch to give the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead
 
Top of Fifth
Two wild pitches and a fielding error allowed for three runs to score for the Fighting Saints
 
Bottom of Sixth
Henry Daniels hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Braxton Meguiar
 
Second Game
Top of First
John McGuire gave St. Francis a 3-0 lead with a run-scoring single
 
Bottom of Second
Caden Smith hit a solo homer to right field
Brody Parkerson lined a run-scoring single to left field to cut the deficit to 5-2
 
Bottom of Third
Jackson Cobb tied the contest, 5-5, with a single that plated two runs
 
Bottom of Sixth
Joe Quelch delivered a go-ahead RBI single to third base
 
Bottom of Seventh
Joe Quelch hit a solo home run for his second round tripper of the day
 
Bottom of Eighth
Paul Winland Jr. hit a two-run home run to center field, giving the Grizzlies an 11-6 lead
 

• The Grizzlies registered 20 hits across Saturday's two games, led by 15 hits in the nightcap
• Junior Joe Quelch hit a home run in each contest to bring his season total to five
• Five GGC players tallied two or more hits in the second game, highlighted by junior Paul Winland Jr. going 3-for-5, with three runs scored
• Junior Braxton Meguiar recorded five assists from second base during Saturday's action

• GGC is 15-2 on the season; St. Francis stands 2-5 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll
• Georgia Gwinnett College has a 5-2 lead in the series
• GGC had its seven-game winning streak end in Saturday's opener

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to conclude the weekend series against University of St. Francis (Illinois) with a single nine-inning contest on Sunday, March 3, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at 2 p.m.