Georgia Gwinnett College Athletics

The Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team put runs on the scoreboard during six consecutive innings while advancing to the championship round of the NAIA Opening Round Lawrenceville Bracket with a resounding 12-6 victory against Louisiana Christian University on Tuesday afternoon at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

The Grizzlies (48-6; No. 1 seed) took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third inning. Junior shortstop Peyton Watts hit a run-scoring single through the right side of the infield. Junior right fielder Jay O'Neill gave the hosts the lead for good with a two-run single to center field.

That started a span in which GGC scored at least one run in six straight innings to stretch its lead to 12-3.

Watts hit an RBI double down the left field line in the fourth inning before junior third baseman JJ Garcia lined a run-scoring double one inning later.

The Grizzlies added two more runs in the sixth frame as Watts once again led the charge with a run-scoring single to center field. He went 4-for-5 and drove in three runs from the No. 2 spot in GGC's lineup.

Senior catcher Grant Pohlman helped break open the contest with a two-run double to right-center field, giving the Grizzlies an 11-3 lead in the top of the eighth inning over the No. 2-seeded Wildcats (36-14).

Freshman center fielder Vick Gann scored three runs and went 2-for-2 from the bottom of the lineup. Junior first baseman Jackson Legg registered two hits and scored twice as the Grizzlies tallied 15 hits in the victory.

The triumph advances GGC to the championship round of the NAIA Opening Round, which will have a game on Wednesday, May 13, at 3 p.m. The Grizzlies' opponent will come from the winner of an elimination game earlier in the day. Another victory in the double-elimination tournament will put the team in the Avista NAIA World Series.
           
Coach's Corner
"I am proud of how the group approached today. Gavin (LeBlanc) settled in after the first inning and got us through the first five innings. That's the goal of the starting pitcher, keeping us in the ball game for five or more innings. Our offense continues to put runs on the scoreboard, especially at times when we scored with two outs. That was big time. I will be excited to see the guys competing in our championship-gold uniforms tomorrow," said Head Coach Tommy Goodale.
 
Turning Point
The Grizzlies turned an early deficit into a 3-1 lead behind a productive top of the third inning. Junior shortstop Peyton Watts hit a run-scoring single through the right side before junior right fielder Jay O'Neill added a two-run double down the left field line. GGC scored in six consecutive innings, beginning in the third inning.
 
Key Plays
Top of Third
Peyton Watts hit a run-scoring single through the right side to tie the game at 1-1
Jay O'Neill lined a two-run single to center field, giving the Grizzlies a 3-1 advantage
 
Top of Fourth
Peyton Watts tallied an RBI double down the left field line to extend the lead to 4-1
 
Top of Fifth
JJ Garcia collected a run-scoring double down the right field line
 
Top of Sixth
Peyton Watts added an RBI single to center field, giving the hosts a 6-1 lead
Lance Bratlien hit an RBI fielder's choice to plate another run
 
Top of Seventh
A wild pitch followed by a passed ball allowed two runs to score, extending the lead to 9-1
 
Top of Eighth
Grant Pohlman lined a two-run double to right-center field
Jackson Legg's sacrifice fly to left field gave the Grizzlies a 12-3 lead
 
Inside The Numbers 

• The Grizzlies outhit Louisiana Christian by a 15-7 margin
• Junior shortstop Peyton Watts went 4-for-5 and drove in three runs on Tuesday
• Four GGC pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts in the game
• Freshman center fielder Vick Gann scored three runs on Tuesday; he has reached base safely in all eight plate appearances during the first two games of the NAIA Opening Round

News & Notes 

• GGC improves to 48-6 in 2026; Louisiana Christian drops to 36-14 on the season
• Georgia Gwinnett were ranked No. 3 in the final NAIA Top 25 poll; Louisiana Christian was tied for No. 24 in the same poll
• The Grizzlies are the top seed in the Lawrenceville Bracket; Louisiana Christian is the No. 2 seed
• Tuesday marked the third postseason encounter between the two programs with the Grizzlies winning twice in 2024

Up Next 
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play in the championship round of the Lawrenceville Bracket on Wednesday, May 13, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at 3 p.m. One more victory will give the team another trip to the Avista NAIA World Series.