The No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team hit three home runs and put together 18 hits to complete a doubleheader sweep that opened a series at Lindsey Wilson University with 8-2 and 16-9 victories on Saturday afternoon in Columbia, Kentucky.

Junior Trey Smith homered in each game and the Grizzlies (16-1) hit homers in consecutive innings of the nightcap.

GGC scored eight unanswered runs to win the series opener. Smith connected on a three-run homer in the fifth inning to give the team a 6-2 lead.

The team followed by scoring in seven of its nine offensive frames of the second contest. After trailing 7-5 through four innings, the Grizzlies used the long ball to plate nine straight runs. Junior Lance Bratlien hit a run-scoring single to square the contest at 7-7 in the fifth inning. Classmate Jackson Legg added a two-run single to give the visitors the lead for good.

One inning later, Bratlien connected on a three-run home run that gave GGC a 14-7 advantage. Senior Wilbert Espinal rounded out the home run barrage with a solo blast to right-center field during the seventh inning.

Smith went 3-for-6 and had three stolen bases in the second game. He hit a home run in the opening frame of that game to complete his strong offensive performance. Juniors Payton Fort and Peyton Watts combined to go 4-for-9, with four runs scored, from the top of the batting lineup.

Bratlien drove in four runs and tallied three hits in the nightcap. Seven GGC players had multiple hits in the contest.

On the mound, six GGC pitchers combined to strike out 15 batters from Lindsey Wilson (6-7). Senior Christian Johnson recorded three strikeouts across 2.2 scoreless innings in relief to pick up his first win of the 2026 campaign in the second game.
 
Coach's Corner
"I'm really proud of the way the guys stuck to our approach at the plate. In game two, everyone in the starting lineup got a hit and we stayed relentless at the plate, scoring in seven of the nine innings. On the mound, it was great to get guys pitching opportunities," said Head Coach Tommy Goodale.
 
Turning Point
The Grizzlies scored in seven of their nine offensive innings to win the nightcap and complete the doubleheader sweep. The visitors plated four runs in the top of the fifth inning behind an RBI single from junior Lance Bratlien and a two-run single by classmate Jackson Legg. One inning later, GGC added five additional runs as Bratlien and senior Wilbert Espinal each connected on home runs.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Top of Fourth
Jay O'Neill hit a run-scoring single to tie the game at 2-2
Jackson Legg added an RBI single to center field
 
Top of Fifth
Trey Smith connected on a three-run home run
 
Top of Sixth
Payton Fort tallied a sacrifice fly
Peyton Watts followed with a run-scoring single to right field that plated the team's eight run of the game
 
Second Game
Top of First
Trey Smith hit a two-run home run to right field
 
Top of Second
JJ Garcia added an RBI double to left-center field, giving the Grizzlies a 3-0 lead
 
Top of Fourth
Payton Fort hit a run-scoring single
 
Top of Fifth
Lance Bratlien tied the game at 7-7 with an RBI single
Jackson Legg added a two-run single to right-center field
 
Top of Sixth
Payton Fort connected on a solo home run
Lance Bratlien registered a three-run homer to stretch the lead to 14-7
 
Top of Seventh
Wilbert Espinal hit a solo home run
 
Inside The Numbers 

• GGC tallied 27 hits across Saturday's doubleheader sweep
• The Grizzlies connected on four home runs, including three during the second contest
• The team had nine stolen bases in the nightcap
• Six GGC pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts during Saturday's second game

News & Notes 

• GGC improves to 16-1 on the season; Lindsey Wilson drops to 6-7 in 2026
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll
• Georgia Gwinnett College has won 15 of the 18 all-time meetings against the Blue Raiders
• The team is 7-1 on the road this spring

Up Next 
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to conclude the weekend series at Lindsey Wilson University on Sunday, March 1, in Columbia, Kentucky, starting at 2 p.m.