Scoring four runs in the first and third innings, the No. 3-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team cruised to a 16-4 series-opening victory against Cumberland University (Tennessee) on Friday evening at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

GGC (28-5) got production from throughout the lineup to account for 14 hits in the team's seventh straight victory, and sixth time posting double-digit runs on the scoreboard during the winning streak.

Junior Bryce Lesher went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs, with a single bringing home a pair of runs in the first inning. He later added another two-run single as part of the hosts' seven-run sixth inning.

The lead was extended to 8-0 across the first three innings. Junior Caden Smith lined an RBI double to right-center field to score junior Jackson Cobb from first base in the third inning. Junior Cohen Wilbanks added an infield run-scoring single to plate Lesher.

Senior starting pitcher Gage Williams was also productive, striking out 11 batters across six strong innings to improve his record to 6-1 on the season. The right hander struck out the side during the top of the third and sixth innings.

"Gage did a fantastic job of attacking (the opposing hitters). They (Cumberland) have a good offense, so for him to come out and shut them down was outstanding. It set a tone and really gave us a ton of confidence," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.

Four Grizzlies registered multiple-hit performances in Friday's series opener. Senior Blaze O'Saben went 2-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases. He opened with his eighth triple of the season and later scored on an RBI double from junior Braxton Meguiar in the first inning.

Junior Paul Winland Jr. also collected two hits, while scoring twice and driving in two runs. Meanwhile, Smith went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.


  "We wanted to come out and set a positive tone for the weekend. Punching four runs in the first inning and taking advantage of some things they gave us was really impressive. We were consistent and found ways to score some runs in the middle innings," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
  While the Grizzlies' offense was outhitting Cumberland by a 14-3 margin and putting 16 runs on the scoreboard, senior starting pitcher Gage Williams was striking out the side in the top of the third and sixth innings to post his sixth mound victory of the spring season. He had 11 strikeouts across six strong innings in the weekend series opener.
  Bottom of First
Braxton Meguiar hit a run-scoring double down the right field line to open the scoring
Bryce Lesher brought home a pair of runs with a single to shortstop that gave the Grizzlies a 4-0 lead
 
Bottom of Third
Caden Smith lined an RBI double to right-center field that scored Jackson Cobb from first base
Cohen Wilbanks hit an infield single that brought home Bryce Lesher for the team's eighth run of the contest
 
Bottom of Sixth
Bryce Lesher lined a two-run single to right field that extended the lead to 13-1
Paul Winland Jr. hit a single through the right side of the infield to score two runs
 

• The Grizzlies outhit Cumberland by a 14-3 margin
• GGC hitters drew 10 walks in the contest
• Senior starting pitcher Gage Williams struck out 11 batters across six innings
• Four different players tallied two or more hits on Friday

• GGC improves to 28-5 in 2024; Cumberland drops to 17-14 on the season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 3 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
• GGC has won 11 of the 14 all-time meetings with Cumberland, including a 7-1 mark in games played in Lawrenceville
• In pregame festivities, Georgia Gwinnett College's Office of Athletics recognized senior Ajay Sczepkowski as the 2022-23 Male Athlete of the Year

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host a Senior Day doubleheader against Cumberland University (Tennessee) on Saturday, March 30, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at 1 p.m. Pregame festivities honoring the 11-member senior class is scheduled to begin at 12:45 p.m.