Smashing four home runs, the top-seeded Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team cruised to a commanding 26-2 victory against No. 5 seed Louisiana Christian University on Monday evening to begin the NAIA Opening Round Lawrenceville Bracket, being played at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

The Grizzlies (48-6) jumped out to a 9-0 advantage through the first two innings, before their players started hitting balls beyond the outfield fence.

Senior Blaze O'Saben connected on a two-run home run to left-center field to give GGC an 11-0 lead in the third inning. Two batters later, senior Ajay Sczepkowski crushed a solo homer – his 19th round tripper of the season.

GGC added a pair of home runs in the fifth inning on smashes by juniors Caden Smith, his ninth homer of the season, and Henry Daniels, a three-run blast over the right field wall.

The team has now hit 90 homers to tie a program single-season record.

Junior Jackson Cobb went 3-for-3 with a pair of triples and three RBI in the contest – contributing to the team's 22-hit offensive attack.

"These (outfield) allies are deep, and we know our park (Grizzly Baseball Complex) better than anybody," said Cobb. "I was thinking three bases (a triple) right out of the box after those two hits. Everybody is doing their job at the plate and not trying to do too much."

Junior Braxton Meguiar joined Cobb, O'Saben and Smith in collecting three hits.

The top two hitters in the GGC batting lineup went 6-for-11 and scored six runs in the tournament-opening victory. Eight players in the starting lineup registered at least two hits.

Meanwhile, senior starting pitcher Gage Williams got out of a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout in the top of the first inning. The right hander proceeded to strike out 11 batters and scattered five hits across seven strong innings to pick up his 11th win of the season. Junior Jaden Bankston tossed two scoreless innings in relief.

GGC will face No. 2 seed Faulkner University (Alabama) in a winner's bracket contest on Tuesday, May 14. The game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.
  "Our guys once again did a great job of executing our game plan. We want to punch early and often to create separation on the scoreboard. The fact that Gage got out of a jam in the first inning gave us a ton of momentum that carried over into our swings. Winning the first tournament game sets us up for the next game," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
  The Grizzlies used nearly inch of the ballpark to score their 26 runs. The team legged out triples down the right field line, doubles to left field, and four home runs in every direction over the outfield fences. The top two hitters in the batting lineup went 6-for-11 and scored six runs while the team's 22-hit offensive attack had eight players registering at least two hits.
  Bottom of First
Paul Winland Jr. collected an RBI single that brought home Jackson Cob
Joe Quelch hit a double to left-center field that gave GGC a 4-0 advantage
 
Bottom of Second
Henry Daniels hit a two-run single to right field
Jackson Cobb legged out a triple that plated two more runs
Paul Winland Jr. hit a sacrifice fly that capped a five-run frame
 
Bottom of Third
Blaze O'Saben connected on a two-run home run
Ajay Sczepkowski hit a solo home run that extended the lead to 12-0
 
Bottom of Fourth
Cohen Wilbanks hit an RBI single as the Grizzlies scored multiple runs for the fourth consecutive inning
 
Bottom of Fifth
Caden Smith added a two-run home run down the right field line
Henry Daniels connected on a three-run homer for the Grizzlies' 90th round tripper of the season
 

• The Grizzlies outhit Louisiana Christian by a 22-6 margin
• GGC hit its 90th home run of the season to tie the program mark
• Senior Gage Williams struck out 11 batters across seven innings on Monday
• The team successfully stole seven bases to surpass 300 steals for the season

• GGC improves to 48-6 this spring; Louisiana Christian stands 33-20 in 2024
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll;
• The team was the top seed in the NAIA Opening Round bracket; Louisiana Christian stood as the No. 5 seed
• Georgia Gwinnett College has advanced to Avista NAIA World Series for five consecutive seasons

Georgia Gwinnett College advances to the winner's bracket clash with No. 2 seed Faulkner University (Alabama) on Tuesday, May 14, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, scheduled to start at 3 p.m.