The No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team spread 12 runs across six innings, including a six-run fourth frame, to open a weekend series at Spartanburg Methodist College with a 12-2 victory on Friday evening in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The Grizzlies (35-4) used a pair of extra-base hits to provide the scoring in the productive sixth inning. The scoring barrage started with junior designated hitter Lance Bratlien hitting a sacrifice fly. Senior catcher Grant Pohlman followed with a double to left field that brought home two more runs. Junior second baseman Payton Fort added a three-run inside the park homer that gave the visitors a commanding 7-0 advantage.

GGC opened the scoring in the first inning behind a sacrifice fly from junior left fielder Trey Smith. The team added single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings before closing out the game with a two-run ninth frame. Junior pinch hitter Dalton Miller collected a run-scoring single before scoring on a wild pitch during the final inning.

That was enough offense to support senior starting pitcher Shane Anderson, who struck out nine batters and scattered five hits across five innings to improve his record to 4-0 this season. Sophomore reliever Fisher Smith added five strikeouts across three hitless innings before senior right-hander Clay Cox tossed a scoreless ninth inning.

Spartanburg Methodist (19-19) got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning on a two-run single, with two outs, by Blake Exizian.

Fort paced GGC's 11-hit offensive attack by going 2-for-5 and driving in four runs. Junior shortstop Peyton Watts added two hits and scored twice. Junior center fielder Jay O'Neill also tallied two hits in the triumph.
 
Coach's Corner
"The six-run fourth inning was awesome to watch. We stuck to our plan and executed really well during that inning. Shane (Anderson) did what he does best by attacking the (strike) zone and keeping opposing hitters off balance. Fisher (Smith) and Clay (Cox) held the rope and dominated the zone on the back end to finish the game strong," said Head Coach Tommy Goodale.
 
Turning Point
The Grizzlies broke open Friday's series opener by scoring six runs in the fourth inning. Senior catcher Grant Pohlman drove in two runs with a double that gave the visitors a 4-0 advantage. A few batters later, junior second baseman Payton Fort connected on an inside the park home run.
 
Key Plays
Top of First
Trey Smith hit a sacrifice fly to center field that brought home JJ Garcia
 
Top of Third
Lance Bratlien added a sacrifice fly to right field
Grant Pohlman brought home a pair of runs with a double to left field, extending the lead to 4-0
Payton Fort connected on a three-run inside the park home run
 
Top of Eighth
Payton Fort hit an RBI double to right-center field
 
Top of Ninth
Pinch hitter Dalton Miller collected a run-scoring single to plate the team's 11th run of the contest
 
Inside The Numbers 

• GGC outhit the Pioneers by an 11-5 margin
• Eight different Grizzlies registered a hit
• Three Grizzly pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts
• Junior second baseman Payton Fort went 2-for-5 and drove in four runs on Friday

News & Notes 

• GGC improves to 35-4 in 2026; Spartanburg Methodist drops to 19-19 this spring
• The Grizzlies are ranked No. 2 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll
• Georgia Gwinnett College has won all five games in the all-time series against the Pioneers
• The team is 15-2 on the road this season

Up Next 
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to conclude the weekend series against Spartanburg Methodist College with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 11, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, starting at 1 p.m.