The No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team scored 10 runs across the final three innings and five pitchers combined to shut out Cumberland University 15-0 in Friday's series opener in Lebanon, Tennessee.

The Grizzlies (28-3) plated seven runs in the ninth inning. Meanwhile, the Phoenix (13-18) were limited to seven hits in GGC's fourth shutout of the season.

It took five innings before the visitors' offense broke loose, with four runs creating separation from Cumberland. Junior first baseman Jackson Legg hit a two-run single up the middle. Then, junior second baseman Payton Fort followed with a two-run home run to right field. His third homer of the season gave the Grizzlies a 5-0 advantage.

Junior left fielder Trey Smith opened the scoring with an RBI single in the top of the fourth inning. He went 4-for-5 at the plate in the game.

Later, junior center fielder Jay O'Neill hit an infield run-scoring single in the ninth inning to plate the team's 10th run of the contest. Junior designated hitter Lance Bratlien collected an RBI single before back-to-back walks to senior Coleman Willis and sophomore Dalton Miller added more runs for the team. Junior pinch hitter Chris Tillery rounded out the seven-run frame with a two-run single to center field.

Fort drove in three runs and scored twice as part of a 3-for-5 performance. Junior third baseman JJ Garcia joined Bratlien and Legg in also recording multiple hits in the contest.

Senior reliever Max Miller recorded three strikeouts and tossed two hitless innings to pick up the victory, improving his record to 3-0 this season. Senior left hander Gavin LeBlanc scattered three hits across three scoreless innings in the starting assignment. Senior relief pitchers James Sells and Clay Cox joined sophomore reliever Fisher Smith in contributing to the shutout.
 
Coach's Corner
"I am proud of how the group bounced back from Tuesday's showing (a 12-8 road loss to Brewton-Parker Christian University). We made adjustments when needed today and attacked each opportunity given to us. It was great to have Gavin (LeBlanc) back out on the mound again. It is awesome to have five guys with multiple hits, capped by Payton (Fort) and Trey Smith," said Head Coach Tommy Goodale.
 
Turning Point
Leading 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, GGC reliever James Sells got out of a bases-loaded jam by getting a ground ball hit to shortstop that started an inning-ending double play. The Grizzlies proceeded to score four runs in the top of the fifth inning to pull away from the Phoenix.
 
Key Plays
Top of Fourth
Trey Smith hit a run-scoring single through the right side of the infield that gave the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead
 
Top of Fifth
Jackson Legg drove in a pair of runs with a single up the middle
Payton Fort followed with a two-run homer, extending the lead to 5-0
 
Top of Eighth
Payton Fort registered an RBI single through the left side of the infield, giving GGC an 8-0 lead
 
Top of Ninth
Trey Smith hit an RBI single to open a seven-run frame
Jay O'Neill had a run-scoring infield single
Lance Bratlien followed with an RBI single
Coleman Willis drew a bases-loaded walk that plated the team's 12th run of the contest
Dalton Miller also drew a walk with the bases loaded
Chris Tillery added a two-run single to center field
 
Inside The Numbers 

• The Grizzlies outhit Cumberland by an 18-7 margin
• Junior second baseman Payton Fort hit his third home run of the season
• Junior left fielder Trey Smith went 4-for-5 and drove in a pair of runs on Friday
• GGC recorded its fourth shutout of the season

News & Notes 

• GGC improves to 28-3 in 2026; Cumberland drops to 13-18 this spring
• The Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
• Georgia Gwinnett College now leads the all-time series by a 14-3 margin against the Phoenix
• The team is 3-0 in games following a loss this season

Up Next 
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to conclude the weekend series against Cumberland University with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 28, in Lebanon, Tennessee, starting at noon.