The No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team overcame an early deficit in each contest to complete a Saturday sweep of Freed-Hardeman University (Tennessee) by 15-13 and 15-8 scores at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

The Grizzlies (27-2) scored 41 runs during the three-game series sweep against a quality opponent that's receiving votes in the national poll.

GGC used a 10-run fifth inning to take its first lead during the opening contest. Then, junior designated hitter Lance Bratlien connected on a go-ahead three-run homer during the fourth inning of the nightcap.

Trailing 9-5 in Saturday's first game, the Grizzlies began the comeback as Bratlien hit a two-run single to right-center field. Senior catcher Grant Pohlman added an RBI single to right field before junior first baseman followed with a run-scoring single. Legg's base hit tied the contest at 9-9.

Junior second baseman Payton Fort lined a two-run single to center field that gave the hosts an 11-9 advantage. Junior shortstop Peyton Watts followed with a sacrifice fly and junior left fielder Trey Smith connected on a two-run home run to center field, capping the 10-run frame that put the Grizzlies ahead 15-9.

Freed-Hardeman (17-9) would not go down quietly. The Lions pushed across two runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Brooks Jones hit a two-run homer to cut the deficit to 15-13.

Senior reliever Max Miller got a game-ending double play with the potential go-ahead run at the plate to secure the victory in the opener.

In the nightcap, Freed-Hardeman jumped out to a 7-3 lead through the top of the fourth inning. However, GGC responded by scoring runs in seven of its eight offensive innings. Junior right fielder Jay O'Neill hit an RBI single to center field to bring the visitors within two runs, at 7-5.

Bratlien connected on his second homer of the series with a line drive over the left field fence, giving the team an 8-7 advantage.

Later, junior right fielder Jay O'Neill connected on a three-run homer to right field that put the game out of reach at 14-7 in the seventh inning.

Smith led GGC's offensive attack by going 6-for-9 and scoring five runs for the day. O'Neill drove in five runs across the sweep. Pohlman went 3-for-3 and drove in two runs in the opener.
 
Coach's Corner
"It wasn't our cleanest baseball, but the guys were tough and kept showing up in big spots. We continued to stick to our approach. We have got to keep learning through these wins. Our toughness and resolve showed up. That was great to see," said Head Coach Tommy Goodale.
 
Turning Points
The Grizzlies scored 10 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take their first lead of Saturday's opening contest. Junior second baseman Payton Fort hit a two-run single that gave the hosts an 11-9 lead. Junior left fielder Trey Smith connected on a two-run homer to cap the big frame. In the nightcap, junior designated hitter Lance Bratlien hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the fourth inning.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Top of First
JJ Pruneau hit a two-run single to left field
Brennen Gibson added an RBI single to left-center field, giving the Lions a 3-0 lead
 
Bottom of Third
Peyton Watts hit a sacrifice fly to center field, trimming GGC's deficit to 6-2
JJ Garcia collected a run-scoring single to left field that scored Payton Fort
Jay O'Neill lined an RBI double to cap a three-run frame
 
Top of Fourth
Brennan Peterson tallied an RBI single to center field that extended the Lions' lead to 9-4
 
Bottom of Fifth
Lance Bratlien hit a run-scoring single to right-center field that brought home two runs
Grant Pohlman followed with an RBI single to bring the Grizzlies within a run, at 9-8
Payton Fort lined a two-run single to right field that gave the team an 11-9 advantage
Peyton Watts hit a sacrifice fly to center field that added another run
Trey Smith connected on a two-run home to center field to cap a 10-run inning

Top of Sixth
Brennan Petersen hit an RBI double down the left field line for the Lions
 
Top of Seventh
Brooks Jones connected on a two-run home run to left field, trimming GGC's lead to 15-13
A double play closed out the game with the go-ahead run at the plate
 
Second Game
Bottom of First
Lance Bratlien hit a run-scoring single down the right-field line
 
Bottom of Second
JJ Garcia added a sacrifice fly to right field to tie the game, at 2-2
 
Bottom of Third
Jackson Legg collected an infield RBI single to trail the Lions 4-3
 
Top of Fourth
Brennan Gibson brought home a pair of runs with a single to left field, extending the lead to 7-3
 
Bottom of Fourth
Jay O'Neill hit a run-scoring single to center field
Lance Bratlien connected on a three-run homer to left field, giving the Grizzlies an 8-7 lead
 
Bottom of Seventh
Jay O'Neill hit a three-run homer to right field, extending the team's lead to 14-7
 
Inside The Numbers 

• The Grizzlies registered 28 hits across Saturday's doubleheader sweep, with 15 hits coming in the first contest
• GGC combined to steal nine bases, led by six stolen bases in the nightcap, including a steal of home plate during a five-run seventh inning
• Junior left fielder Trey Smith went 6-for-9 and scored five runs
• The team connected on three home runs during Saturday's action

News & Notes 

• GGC improves to 27-2 on the season; Freed-Hardeman falls to 17-9 in 2026
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll; Freed-Hardeman received votes in the same poll
• Georgia Gwinnett College leads the all-time series against the Lions by a 9-5 margin
• There were a combined 72 runs scored in the three-game series by the two teams

Up Next 
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to travel to Brewton Parker Christian University on Tuesday, March 24, in Mount Vernon, Georgia, starting at 3 p.m.