The No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team hit seven home runs and once again got strong starting pitching performances to sweep Saturday's doubleheader against Cumberland University by 9-0 and 15-2 scores in Lebanon, Tennessee. The victories gave the Grizzlies their 30th win of the season.

GGC (30-3) connected on five homers in the second game, starting with a leadoff homer in three of the first four innings. Junior second baseman Payton Fort hit the team's first multiple home run game of the season in that contest.

Fort led off the game with a home run to right field. He added a three-run homer in the top of the fifth inning to give the visitors a commanding 11-1 advantage.

Junior left fielder Trey Smith opened the third inning with his team-leading sixth home run.

Junior shortstop Peyton Watts added a leadoff homer in the fourth inning. Watts smashed a home run in both games on Saturday.

The Grizzlies jumped out to a 4-0 advantage in the opening frame of the second game. Watts had an RBI triple before scoring on a run-scoring double by junior designated hitter Lance Bratlien. Junior first baseman Jackson Legg added a sacrifice fly later in the first inning.

A few innings later, freshman center fielder Vick Gann gave GGC a 7-0 lead with an RBI ground out to first base.

The team pushed across five runs in the fifth inning to secure the series sweep. After Fort's second homer of the game, two additional runs were scored with two outs on a base hit from Smith. Runs were put on the visitor's scoreboard in all seven innings of the game.

In the opener, the Grizzlies scored three runs in the third and fifth innings to build a 7-0 lead. Watts connected on a two-run homer before senior right fielder Wilbert Espinal added an RBI double in the third inning.

Junior center fielder Jay O'Neill led off the fifth inning with a home run to left field. Fort drove in a pair of runs with a single to right field.

Pitching was also dominant for GGC on Saturday and the three-game series. Senior right hander Shane Anderson struck out 10 batters and allowed just one hit across seven scoreless innings. Senior lefty Caiden Johnson added three more strikeouts to combine for a one-hitter in the opener.

Junior left-handed pitcher Peyton Castellow followed by also recording 10 strikeouts while allowing two hits across six strong innings.

The Grizzlies allowed only two runs and 15 hits during the three-game series against the Phoenix.
 
Coach's Corner
"I am really proud of how the group approached the game from pitch one of game one today. On the mound, Shane set the tone by attacking the zone and keeping their hitters off balance. Caiden (Johnson) came in and did more of the same followed by Peyton (Castellow), who picked up right where they left off. We took a big step forward today," said Head Coach Tommy Goodale.
 
Turning Point
The Grizzlies used the long ball to complete the road series sweep on Saturday. Junior shortstop Peyton Watts hit a round tripper in all three games at Cumberland. Junior second baseman Payton Fort recorded the team's first multiple home run game of the season in the second game of the day. GGC hit a leadoff homer in three of the first four innings of that game.
 
Key Plays
First Game
Top of First
Trey Smith opened the scoring with an RBI ground out to shortstop
 
Top of Third
Peyton Watts connected on a two-run homer to right field, extending the lead to 3-0
 
Top of Fifth
Jay O'Neill led off the frame with a home run to left field
Payton Fort hit a two-run single with two outs to give the Grizzlies a 7-0 lead
 
Top of Eighth
Wilbert Espinal lined an RBI single to right field with two outs to stretch the lead to 9-0
 
Second Game
Top of First
Payton Fort led off the game with a homer to right field
Peyton Watts legged out an RBI triple
Lance Bratlien followed with a run-scoring double, giving the Grizzlies a 3-0 lead
Jackson Legg hit a sacrifice fly
 
Top of Third
Trey Smith opened the frame with his team-leading sixth round tripper of the season
Vick Gann hit an RBI ground out to extend the lead to 7-0
 
Top of Fourth
Peyton Watts led off the inning with a homer to right field
 
Top of Fifth
Payton Fort connected on his second home run of the game and drove in three runs to extend the lead to 11-1
 
Top of Sixth
Vick Gann hit a solo home run for the team's fifth round tripper of the game
 
Top of Seventh
Ozzie Patterson tallied a run-scoring single to center field to plate the team's 15th run
 
Inside The Numbers 

• GGC registered 30 hits across Saturday's doubleheader sweep, with 16 hits coming in the opening game of the day
• Junior second baseman Payton Fort hit a pair of homers in the second game
• The Grizzlies had four stolen bases in each contest
• GGC starting pitchers Shane Anderson and Peyton Castellow each tallied 10 strikeouts in strong performances

News & Notes 

• GGC improves to 30-3 for the season; Cumberland drops to 13-20 this spring
• The Grizzlies are ranked No. 2 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
• Georgia Gwinnett College leads the series with Cumberland by a 16-3 margin, including 10 straight victories
• Junior shortstop Peyton Watts hit a home run in both games on Saturday

Up Next 
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host No. 24 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Georgia) on Tuesday, March 31, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at 3 p.m.