The No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team dropped the finale of its five-game road trip with a 10-7 loss at Milligan University on Tuesday afternoon in Elizabethon, Tennessee.

The Buffaloes (35-8) scored in each of the first five innings, including a four-run fourth inning, to build an 8-5 lead.

GGC (37-5) got within two runs, at 7-5, with a three-run fifth inning. Senior pinch hitter Wilbert Espinal brought home a pair of runs with a single. Senior catcher Grant Pohlman followed with an RBI double.

The Grizzlies threatened again in the seventh inning as a throwing error allowed junior left fielder Trey Smith to score from second base. Junior pinch hitter Dalton Miller collected a run-scoring single through the left side of the infield that brought the visitors within a run, at 8-7, in the top of the seventh inning.

However, Milligan answered as Gaven Jones connected on a two-run home run that pushed the team's advantage back to a three-run margin.

That didn't mean GGC didn't have its chances. The team left the bases loaded in the eighth inning and brought the potential game-tying run to the plate in the ninth frame after opening with back-to-back singles from junior first baseman Jackson Legg and freshman center fielder Vick Gann.

However, Milligan reliever Sai Vickers secured his second save of the season by getting a fielder's choice and a double play that ended the game.

Milligan outhit the Grizzlies by a 15-13 margin. Junior second baseman Payton Fort, junior shortstop Peyton Watts and Legg each tallied two hits in the midweek setback.
 
Coach's Corner
"It is tough to beat good teams when we don't advantage of our opportunities. They beat us in two-out RBI and stolen bases. That played into today's result. The second half of the game was a better representation of how we play the game. We were a base hit away a couple of times. We will learn from this and continue to move forward," said Head Coach Tommy Goodale.
 
Turning Point
Milligan had an answer to stay on top each time GGC threatened in Tuesday's contest. After getting within two runs, at 7-5, in the top of the fifth inning the hosts put together a two-out rally in the bottom half of the frame. Then, GGC trimmed the deficit to 8-7 in the top of the seventh inning only to have Milligan's Gaven Jones connect on a two-run homer in the team's next at bats.
 
Key Plays
Top of Second
Payton Fort hit an RBI single to center field
A fielding error allowed for Lance Bratlien to score, giving GGC a 2-1 lead
 
Bottom of Third
Cade Kalehuawehe registered a run-scoring single up the middle as the Buffaloes took a 3-2 lead
 
Bottom of Fourth
Gaven Jones hit an RBI single
Brody Melton collected a run-scoring single
Nick Iezzi lined another RBI single, extending the lead to 5-2
 
Top of Fifth
Wilbert Espinal brought home two runs with a single
Grant Pohlman lined an RBI double to left field that brought the Grizzlies within two runs, at 7-5
 
Bottom of Seventh
Trey Smith scored following a throwing error
Dalton Miller collected a run-scoring single through the left side of the infield that trimmed the deficit to 8-7
 
Bottom of Seventh
Gaven Jones connected on a two-run home run to give the hosts a three-run lead
 
Inside The Numbers 

• Milligan outhit the Grizzlies by a 15-13 margin
• The Buffaloes recorded 10 stolen bases
• The Grizzlies stranded 11 base runners
• Five GGC pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts on Tuesday

News & Notes 

• GGC drops to 37-5 this spring; Milligan improves to 35-8 on the season
• The Grizzlies are ranked No. 2 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll; Milligan received votes in the latest poll
• The two teams have split two midweek matchups, with each team winning on its home diamond over the last two seasons
• The team won four games during the five-game road swing

Up Next 
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Lindsey Wilson University (Kentucky) for Senior Day on Friday, April 17, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at 5 p.m.