The No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team extended its perfect start to the 2026 season with a pair of victories on Friday, defeating Point University (Georgia) 3-2 and Crowley's Ridge College (Arkansas) 16-4 at the Grizzly Baseball Complex. 

The Grizzlies (9-0) broke a 2-2 deadlock in the sixth inning of the opener as a throwing error on a successful steal from junior Chris Tillery allowed classmate Jay O'Neill to score the winning run.

Junior Trey Smith hit a sacrifice fly to left field that brought home junior Payton Fort to even the contest at 2-2 in the third inning.

GGC's bullpen tossed four scoreless innings in relief, recording six strikeouts over that closing span. Senior Max Miller had four strikeouts to pick up his first win of the season. Sophomore Fisher Smith allowed one hit across the final two frames to secure his second save of the young season.

Junior Peyton Watts tied the game at 1-1 with an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. Point (6-4) regained the one-run advantage behind an RBI ground out in the top of the second inning.

In the nightcap, the Grizzlies jumped out a quick 5-0 lead in the opening frame. Smith hit a solo home run before O'Neill added an RBI double. Junior Jackson Legg added a run-scoring single to center field that plated the team's fifth run of the game.

A few innings later, GGC pushed across six more runs to extend its lead to 13-2. Smith opened the productive inning with an RBI single before senior Wilbert Espinal drove in a pair of runs with a single. Senior Grant Pohlman added a bases-clearing double to plate the 13th run.

Espinal paced the team's 15-hit offensive attack in the nightcap, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored. Smith tallied two hits and drove in three runs. Tillery registered three hits and Pohlman rounded out the multiple-hit performers with a 2-for-3 effort.


 
Coach's Corner 
"It is great to win a close game, especially in February, because that effort is going to help us in the long run. We had a much better offensive performance in the second game. What I liked best was how the guys reset themselves after the first game. We want to play our brand of baseball every time we step out on the field and leave whatever happened in the past. It was awesome to see how this group attacked the second game," said Head Coach Tommy Goodale. 
 
Turning Point 
The turning point of the first game of the night came in the bottom of the sixth inning with the game tied at 2-2. Junior Jay O'Neill started things by reaching base and later advancing into scoring position following a passed ball. With two outs, junior Chris Tillery stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by the opposing catcher. That allowed O'Neill to race home for the go-ahead run. That lead would hold up for the remainder of the game. 
 
Key Plays 
Point Game 
Bottom of First 
Peyton Watts delivered an RBI single that scored Payton Fort to even the score at 1-1
 
Bottom of Third
Trey Smith hit a sacrifice fly as the game once again was tied, at 2-2
 
Bottom of Sixth
A throwing error following Chris Tillery's successful steal of second base allowed Jay O'Neill to the score the eventual game-winning run
 
Top of Ninth
The Grizzlies sealed the win with a strikeout and a caught stealing at second base to end the game 
 
Crowley's Ridge Game
Bottom of First
Trey Smith opened the scoring with a solo homer
Jay O'Neill added a run-scoring double to spark a five-run frame
 
Bottom of Third
Wilbert Espinal delivered a two-run single
Grant Pohlman cleared the bases with a double as the lead grew to 13-2
 
Inside The Numbers 

• The Grizzlies tallied 19 hits across Friday's two contests, including eight extra-base hits 
• Junior Wilbert Espinal went 3-for-4, with three RBI and three runs scored, in the nightcap against Crowley's Ridge 
• GGC's pitching staff combined to record 23 strikeouts
• The team registered its 90th hit of the season and now has averaged 10 hits over its first nine games

News & Notes 

• GGC improved to 9-0 on the season; Point stands 6-4 in 2026; Crowley's Ridge is now 4-5 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll 
• Georgia Gwinnett College has won all seven meetings all-time against Point; GGC has a 4-0 lead in the series against Crowley's Ridge 
• GGC has won its first nine games to start a season for the second time in program history 

Up Next 
Georgia Gwinnett College concludes the weekend home set by playing Crowley's Ridge College (Arkansas) and Point University (Georgia) on Saturday, February 14, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at 2 p.m.