The No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team scored eight runs in each game while sweeping a doubleheader at Blue Mountain Christian University (Mississippi) by 8-2 and 8-6 scores on Friday afternoon – extending the team's season-opening winning streak to 13 games.

The Grizzlies (13-0) hit a pair of home runs during a three-run third inning of the opener before plating four runs in the third inning of the nightcap.

Junior Jackson Legg led off the third inning with his second homer of this spring. A few batters later, junior Peyton Watts also connected on his second home run of the 2026 campaign – a two-run blast – to give the visitors a 4-0 lead.

GGC pushed across three runs in the fifth inning to stretch the lead to 7-0. Senior Wilbert Espinal lined an RBI single to center field before junior Ashton Fuselier hit a sacrifice fly for the big hits in the frame.

Senior starting pitcher Carson Judd struck out four batters across five scoreless innings in the first start of his GGC career. The left hander improved to 2-0 for the season.

In the nightcap, the Grizzlies jumped out to an 8-3 lead through five innings. Junior Trey Smith hit a run-scoring single through the left side of the infield in the third inning. The team added two more runs from a wild pitch, a successful double steal that included a steal of home, and a balk.

One inning later, Watts hit a sacrifice fly to left field that brought home junior Payton Fort. Senior catcher Grant Pohlman delivered a two-out, two-run single to give the visitors a 7-2 lead.

Blue Mountain Christian (6-6) mounted a comeback following a two-run seventh inning and another run in the eighth inning trimmed the deficit to 8-6. The Toppers then loaded the bases in the frame. Senior reliever Shane Anderson got a lineout to shortstop to end that threat.

The hosts threatened again in the bottom of the ninth inning, putting the potential game-tying run on base. That's when Pohlman picked off a baserunner at second base to end the game.

Fort registered two hits and scored twice in both games. Smith had two RBI in the nightcap. Watts went 2-for-3, with two RBI and scoring twice, in the opener to highlight the team's 20-hit offensive attack for the doubleheader.
 
Coach's Corner
"It was good that we worked through some adversity. As a group, we're going to find a way to make it work out for us. It is awesome to have depth that we can turn to in any situation. Grant (Pohlman) was key for us behind the plate (catching) and had a big hit in the second game," said Head Coach Tommy Goodale.
 
Turning Point
Blue Mountain Christian mounted rallies in late innings of the nightcap. The hosts scored two runs in the seventh inning and added another run in the eighth inning. Senior reliever Shane Anderson got out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth frame by getting a lineout to shortstop. The Toppers then put the potential game-tying run on base in the ninth inning. However, senior catcher Grant Pohlman picked off a baserunner at second base to record the 27th and final out, securing the doubleheader sweep.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Top of Third
Jackson Legg led off the inning with a home run to right field, giving the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead
Peyton Watts connected on a two-run homer to cap a three-run frame
 
Top of Fifth
Wilbert Espinal hit a run-scoring single to center field
Ashton Fuselier added a sacrifice fly that stretched the lead to 5-0
 
Top of Sixth
Trey Smith lined an RBI double that brought home Payton Fort
 
Second Game
Top of Third
Braden Smith scored following a wild pitch to open the scoring
Trey Smith hit an RBI single
Peyton Watts successfully stole home, plating the fourth of the frame
A balk allowed Trey Smith to score
 
Top of Fourth
Peyton Watts collected a sacrifice fly to left field
Grant Pohlman delivered a two-out, two-run single, giving GGC a 7-2 lead
 
Top of Fifth
Trey Smith hit an RBI ground out to shortstop
 
Inside The Numbers 

• The Grizzlies recorded 20 hits across Friday's doubleheader sweep
• Junior Payton Fort went 4-for-8, with four runs scored, from the leadoff spot in GGC's batting order
• GGC successfully stole 13 bases, led by eight steals in the nightcap
• Five pitchers combined to strike out eight batters in the second contest 

News & Notes 

• Georgia Gwinnett College improves to 13-0 on the season; Blue Mountain drops to 6-6 in 2026
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll
• GGC have won the last six games in the series history against Blue Mountain Christian
• The team is 6-0 on the road this spring

Up Next 
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to close out the weekend series against Blue Mountain Christian University with a single nine-inning contest on Saturday, February 21, in Blue Mountain, Mississippi, starting at 2 p.m.