The No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team closes out a 10-game home stand when it battles Freed-Hardeman University (Tennessee) in a three-game set, beginning on Friday, March 20, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at 5 p.m.

The Grizzlies (24-2) will conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 21, beginning at 1 p.m.

GGC is coming off a three-game series sweep against Montreat College (North Carolina) last weekend at Gwinnett Field, home of the Gwinnett Stripers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.

Pitching has been a strength for the team this spring, ranking eighth nationally with a 3.28 earned run average. Junior left hander Peyton Castellow is the reigning Continental Athletic Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week after recording 10 strikeouts against Indiana Tech on March 9. He received the award for the second time in 2026. Castellow stands 2-0 with a 3.34 ERA and a team-high 39 strikeouts.

Senior left-handed pitcher Carson Judd is 4-0 and has made three starts among seven total mound appearances this season. He has compiled a 1.64 ERA and recorded 22 strikeouts across 22 innings.

Another senior lefty, Gavin LeBlanc, stands 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA across five starts. Senior right hander Shane Anderson has posted three saves and is 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA on the season. Anderson was recognized as the NAIA's Pitcher of the Week earlier this month.

Offensively, the Grizzlies have relied on a balanced attack, with six players posting over .337 batting averages this spring. Junior infielder Peyton Watts leads the team by hitting .403 with three triples. Junior infielder Payton Fort has 20 stolen bases and is hitting at a .369 clip.

Junior outfielder Trey Smith is tops on the squad with 30 runs batted in and four home runs. Senior outfielder Wilbert Espinal has had nine doubles and a .337 batting average. Junior outfielder Jay O'Neill leads the Grizzlies with 31 runs scored.

Freed-Hardeman (19-6) picked up an 8-4 victory against the University of Tennessee Southern on Tuesday. This came after winning a home series against Georgetown College (Kentucky). The Lions are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll. Brooks Jones leads the team with a .412 batting average, 12 doubles and 32 RBI. Drake Blackwood has seven homers and is hitting over .400. Pitcher Jackson Fitzwilson has a 5-1 record and 2.57 earned run average. Colton Bryant stands 3-1, with 24 strikeouts, across eight appearances.

GAME PROGRAM

VIDEO

LIVE STATS
FRIDAY
SATURDAY: GAME 1 | GAME 2
 
MEET THE COACHES 
Georgia Gwinnett: Tommy Goodale is in his first season guiding the Grizzlies, compiling a 24-2 record so far. He was an assistant coach at GGC during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Goodale previously served as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Murray State University (Kentucky) and LSU Eunice, a perennial junior college powerhouse.
Freed-Hardeman: Jess Trask is in his fourth season leading the Lions, posting a 120-67-1 record. He led the team to a NAIA Opening Round appearance in Lawrenceville during the 2023 campaign.

PITCHING WEEKLY AWARD
Junior Peyton Castellow is the reigning Continental Athletic Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week. The left hander was recognized for the second time this season. He struck out 10 batters in a victory against Indiana Tech on March 9.
 
STANDING PAT IN NATIONAL POLL
The Grizzlies remain No. 2 in the NAIA Top 25 poll, released on Wednesday by the national office. The team has been ranked No. 2 in each poll this season. The NAIA Top 25 poll is conducted by a nationwide panel of coaches.
 
BALANCED OFFENSIVE ATTACK
Six GGC players are hitting .337 or higher on the season. The team has five players with 10 or more stolen bases. The Grizzlies have a .322 team batting average and have scored double-digit runs on eight occasions.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Grizzlies have won six of the 11 games in the all-time series against Freed-Hardeman. GGC won two of three games between the two programs while winning the Lawrenceville Bracket of the Opening Round of the 2023 NAIA tournament.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Freed-Hardeman (19-6) picked up an 8-4 victory against the University of Tennessee Southern on Tuesday. This came after winning a home series against Georgetown College (Kentucky). The Lions are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll. Brooks Jones leads the team with a .412 batting average, 12 doubles and 32 RBI. Drake Blackwood has seven homers and is hitting over .400 this season. Pitcher Jackson Fitzwilson has a 5-1 record and 2.57 earned run average. Colton Bryant stands 3-1, with 24 strikeouts, across eight appearances.
 
FOLLOW THE GRIZZLIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA 
GGCAthletics.com will be home for news and information regarding the baseball team this spring. Home games are broadcast on the Grizzly Digital Network. Download the GGC App to receive schedule updates. For the most up-to-date news and information, follow GGC Athletics and GGC Baseball through the following social media: X (@GGCAthletics; @GGC_Baseball), Facebook (GGCAthletics), and Instagram (@GGCAthletics; @ggc_baseball).