The Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team had its 13-game season-opening winning streak end with a 6-5 loss at Blue Mountain Christian University (Mississippi) on Saturday afternoon to close out a three-game weekend series.

The Grizzlies (13-1) led 5-1 through the first three innings, but the Toppers (7-6) plated a single run across the fifth through seventh innings to complete the comeback.

Junior Ashton Fuselier brought home a pair of runs with a double in the first inning. Senior Grant Pohlman followed with an RBI infield single to cap the four-run frame.

Junior Jackson Legg had a run-scoring double to give the visitors the early advantage.

Blue Mountain Christian began chipping away at the deficit as Ross Polizzi drove in two runs with a double in the bottom of the third inning.

A few innings later, Jake Meilstrup hit a solo home run for the hosts. Then, Cody Presley capped the strong middle-inning offensive production with an RBI single that plated the eventual game-winning run in the seventh inning.

Christian Manness came out of the bullpen to strike out seven batters across eight innings to pick up the victory.

Blue Mountain Christian outhit GGC by a 13-7 margin, with junior Trey Smith and Pohlman each registering two hits for the visitors.

The Grizzlies' 13-game winning streak was the second longest to open the season in program history.
 
Coach's Corner
"We high standards for this program. We didn't play to those standards today. I hate losing as much as anybody, but if we learn from this then it becomes an opportunity for us to get back to being more consistent in every aspect of the game. I take full responsibility for how the offense performed today. We will learn from this and take our best foot forward at practice on Monday," said Head Coach Tommy Goodale.
 
Turning Point
After holding off a Blue Mountain Christian rally in Friday's nightcap, the Grizzlies were unable to duplicate that feat during Saturday's series finale. The Toppers scored single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to rally from a 5-3 deficit.
 
Key Plays
Top of First
Jay O'Neill hit an RBI single to center field to open the scoring
Ashton Fuselier drove in a pair of runs with a double down the left field line
Grant Pohlman capped a four-run frame with an infield run-scoring single
 
Top of Third
Jackson Legg legged out an RBI double, giving the Grizzlies a 5-1 lead
 
Bottom of Third
Ross Polizzi brought home two runs with a double to left field
 
Bottom of Fifth
Jake Meilstrup hit a solo home run
 
Bottom of Seventh
Cody Presley added a run-scoring single to center field that plated the game-winning run
 
Inside The Numbers 

• Blue Mountain Christian outhit the Grizzlies by a 13-7 margin
• Senior Grant Pohlman went 2-for-3 and had a double on Saturday
• The Grizzlies recorded two steals
• Three different GGC pitchers combined for six strikeouts

News & Notes 

• GGC falls to 13-1 this spring; Blue Mountain improves to 7-6 on the season
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll
• Georgia Gwinnett College has won seven of the nine games in the all-time series against Blue Mountain Christian
• The team's 13-game winning streak was the second longest to start a season in program history

Up Next 
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan University on Tuesday, February 24, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at 5 p.m.