The top-seeded Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team has opened the 2025 Continental Athletic Conference Baseball Championship Tournament with a pair of 10-run triumphs, defeating No. 2 seed Spartanburg Methodist College (South Carolina) 11-1 in seven innings on Saturday morning at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

This latest triumph has the Grizzlies (48-4) advancing into the championship round of the tournament on Sunday, May 4, at 3 p.m. Their opponent will be determined by the victor of Sunday's 11 a.m. contest between No. 3 seed Fisher College (Massachusetts) and Spartanburg Methodist in the loser's bracket finale. That game was postponed from Saturday evening due to inclement weather conditions.
GGC got off to a fast start in Saturday's victory, scoring five runs in the top of the first inning.

Leadoff hitter, senior Jon Ponder successfully stole home as senior Braxton Meguiar got caught in a rundown between first and second base after a walk. Then, senior Jackson Cobb executed a safety squeeze bunt play to score junior Alex Harrell. Senior Paul Winland Jr. followed with an RBI double to left field and junior Tyler M. Martin added another run-scoring double, extending the hosts' lead to 5-0.

A few innings later, senior Scott Seeker and Cobb collected RBI singles and Martin hit an RBI fielder's choice to shortstop to give the tournament hosts an 8-0 advantage.

Senior Matthew Lee lined a run-scoring single through the left side of the infield to plate the team's 11th run of the contest.

For the second straight postseason game the Grizzlies got a complete-game pitching performance. This time, senior right hander Ben Harris, the 2025 CAC Pitcher of the Year, struck out eight batters and scattered six hits in picking up his 10th win of the season.

The middle of GGC's offensive lineup went a combined 8-for-11 at the plate, scored seven runs and drove in four runs. Seeker went 2-for-3 and scored three times and Cobb, Harrell and Winland Jr. each tallied two hits in the victory.

The Grizzlies stole eight bases in the game and now have amassed 344 steals for the season, which is the most ever recorded by a team across all collegiate divisions. Ponder had three steals in Saturday's game.
 
Coach's Corner
"This group put together another dominant performance on all sides of the baseball. It all starts on the mound and Ben was special, pitching out of some jams, forcing weak contact and trusting our defense. I was very impressed with how our offensive approach applied pressure, from the first baserunner. I love to see our guys getting rewarded for trusting our plan of attack," said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
 
Turning Point
GGC seized early control of the contest by scoring five runs in the top of the first inning. Leading the way, the first four hitters in GGC's lineup all reached without recording a hit. The first hit came as senior Paul Winland Jr. hit a run-scoring double to left field. Then, junior Tyler M. Martin followed with an RBI double as the team sent nine batters to the plate in the frame.
 
Key Plays
Top of First
Jon Ponder successfully stole home to open a five-run frame
Jackson Cobb executed a safety squeeze bunt, giving GGC a 3-0 advantage
Paul Winland Jr. added an RBI double
Tyler M. Martin brought home another run with a double
 
Top of Fourth
Scott Seeker lined a run-scoring single to right field, bringing home Braxton Meguiar
 
Top of Fifth
Matthew Lee collected an RBI single through the left side of the infield to score the team's 11th run of the contest
 
Inside The Numbers

• The Grizzlies outhit Spartanburg Methodist by a 12-6 margin on Saturday
• Senior Scott Seeker went 2-for-3 and scored three times in the victory
• Senior starting pitcher Ben Harris recorded eight strikeouts in tossing the complete game across seven innings
• Senior Jon Ponder successfully stole three bases during the contest

News & Notes

• GGC improves to 48-4 in 2025 and has a 13-game winning streak; Spartanburg Methodist falls to 20-28 on the season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the final regular season NAIA Top 25 poll
• The team is the top seed in the double-elimination tournament; Spartanburg Methodist is the No. 2 seed
• Georgia Gwinnett College has won all four meetings this season against the Pioneers

Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College advances to the championship round of the 2025 Continental Athletic Conference Baseball Championship, scheduled for Sunday, May 4, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at 3 p.m. The Grizzlies will play the winner of No. 2 seed Spartanburg Methodist College (South Carolina) and No. 3 seed Fisher College (Massachusetts) from earlier in the day.