The No. 2-seeded Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team's offense scored 14 runs on 14 hits and senior Anthony Patterson III pitched a complete-game shutout as the Grizzlies picked up a 14-0 seven-inning triumph against No. 3 seed Tennessee Wesleyan University on Monday afternoon at the Avista NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.

GGC (55-5) has now won both of its World Series games by 10-run rule margins with 29 hits, one run allowed, and one defensive error. The team advances in the winner's bracket to face No. 6 seed Southeastern University (Florida) on Tuesday, May 27, starting at 6:30 p.m. pacific time.

Patterson III struck out eight batters and scattered six hits in the dominant pitching performance.

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies scored 12 of their 14 runs across the final three innings. The big blow was a grand slam over the center field wall by senior Paul Winland Jr., giving the team a commanding 9-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning. He became the fifth different Grizzly in program history to hit a grand slam at the Avista World Series.

"It was my first time seeing (Tennessee Wesleyan's) new lefty pitcher. I saw the slider and knew that he was going to go back to it. When I got two strikes my mindset shifted to not getting beat (with an) outside (pitch). I wanted to see the ball deep (in the strike zone) and trust my hands," said Winland Jr. about his home run.

GGC jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening frame after an RBI single from junior Alex Harrell brought home senior Jon Ponder, who had led off the game with a double. Harrell replaced Ponder at second base due to an outfield defensive error. A hit by pitch and walk loaded the bases. Then, Winland Jr. hustled for an infield run-scoring single for the second run of the opening frame.

The lead would remain that way as Patterson III recorded five of his eight strikeouts through the first four innings. He registered back-to-back strikeouts to strand runners at first and second bases in the fourth inning.

"It was a huge moment in the game as the momentum of the game could have gone either way. It was a really big pitch, it fell my way and we scored right after that," said Patterson III.

GGC carried the positive momentum to plate three runs with two outs in the top of the fifth inning. Senior Matthew Lee hit an infield single with the bases loaded before junior Tyler M. Martin drew a walk to give the Grizzlies a 4-0 lead. Senior Kyle Norton followed with another infield run-scoring single.

Winland Jr.'s home run blast came an inning later as the third baseman went 2-for-3 with five RBI in the contest.

Six different Grizzlies registered multiple hits in the victory.

Senior Jackson Cobb and Lee tallied run-scoring doubles, with Lee's extra-base hit plating the final two runs of the contest. Lee drove in three runs and went 2-for-4 at the plate.

Harrell registered three hits and scored twice, while Cobb scored three times and tallied two hits on Monday.
 
Coach's Corner
"You've got to have quality starts (at the World Series) and that was one of the better ones that we've had. Anthony (Patterson III) did a great job of working through moments by trusting who he is and believing in the defense behind him. We all rallied behind him and the offense fed off his performance. We have scored with two outs all year and we expect it to show up in the postseason. We believe that if we have an out (left in an inning), we have a chance to score some runs," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
 
Turning Point
Senior starting pitcher Anthony Patterson III recorded a strikeout to end the fourth inning and strand a pair of Tennessee Wesleyan base runners. The Grizzlies used that momentum to plate three runs with two outs in the top of the fifth inning and start a late-game offensive surge. Senior Matthew Lee hit an infield single before junior Tyler M. Martin drew a bases-loaded walk to give GGC a 4-0 lead. Senior Kyle Norton followed with another infield RBI single.
 
Key Plays
Top of First
Alex Harrell hit an RBI single down the right field line, plating Jon Ponder
Paul Winland Jr. added a run-scoring infield single to give GGC a 2-0 lead
 
Top of Fifth
Matthew Lee registered a run-scoring infield single to shortstop, giving GGC a 3-0 lead
Tyler M. Martin drew a bases-loaded walk, with two outs
Kyle Norton followed with an infield single, scoring Paul Winland Jr.
 
Top of Sixth
Paul Winland Jr. connected on a grand slam to center field, extending the lead to 9-0
 
Top of Seventh
Scott Seeker hit a two-run single up the middle for an 11-0 GGC advantage
Jackson Cobb tallied an RBI double to center field to score the 12th run of the contest
Matthew Lee lined a two-run double to left-center field
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies outhit Tennessee Wesleyan by a 14-6 margin
• Senior starting pitcher Anthony Patterson III recorded eight strikeouts in tossing the complete-game shutout on Monday
• Senior Paul Winland Jr. became the fifth different Grizzly in program history to hit a grand slam at the Avista NAIA World Series. He joins Zach Alvord, Kade Carrigan, Brody Wofford, and Nick Barnes in that achievement
• Six different GGC players registered multiple-hit performances

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 55-5 this spring; Tennessee Wesleyan falls to 47-13 on the season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the final regular season NAIA Top 25 poll; Tennessee Wesleyan stood No. 3 in the same poll
• The team was the No. 2 seed in the 2025 Avista NAIA World Series bracket; Tennessee Wesleyan stood as the No. 3 seed
• Monday's victory gives GGC a 14-13 lead in the series and a 2-1 advantage in games played at the Avista NAIA World Series

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play No. 6 seed Southeastern University (Florida) on Tuesday, May 27, at the Avista NAIA World Series, from Lewiston, Idaho, starting at 6:30 p.m. pacific time.