Georgia Gwinnett College Athletics

The Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team's postseason ended with a 12-1 loss in seven innings to Lewis-Clark State College in Saturday night's elimination round game of the Avista NAIA World Series on the Warriors' Harris Field in Lewiston, Idaho.

The No. 2-seeded Grizzlies' season concluded with a 49-8 record, and their eighth straight World Series appearance and ninth in program history.

"Obviously, this wasn't the outcome that we came to Lewiston to achieve," said Head Coach Tommy Goodale, who was in his initial season leading GGC. "There's no consolation prize here (at the World Series), but I know that we continue to live up to the program's high standards – on and off the field. We'll go back to the drawing board and work very hard to get back here. I'm proud of this team and what it achieved this season."

Most of the damage for No. 3 seed Lewis-Clark (45-8) came before many of their hometown fans had settled into their seats during the bottom of the first inning. A leadoff home run was followed by a run-scoring double, triple and single – along with a defensive error, wild pitch and a walk by GGC – that put the team ahead by a shocking 9-0 score on half of its 14 hits in the game.

Meanwhile, junior right-hander starter Mason Goodson kept Georgia Gwinnett's potent offense off balance the rest of the game, allowing just three hits while having six strikeouts across a complete-game performance. A home run in the top of the sixth frame by junior second baseman Chris Tillery was the Grizzlies' lone extra-base hit in the game.
 
Coach's Corner
"When adversity hit this team in late December-early January (when there was a head coaching change), they decided to hang together. They loved each other and they knew what it meant to play in a Grizzly uniform. That's really awesome. They have represented the G-Claw in the right way. I'm proud that they continued to work with me as I continued to grow. We as a staff continue to learn and grow. This group is filled with learners and achievers who are going to be successful in whatever they do in life," said Head Coach Tommy Goodale.
 
Turning Point
A nine-run first inning on seven hits put the host Lewis-Clark State team comfortably ahead in a matchup of teams seeded No. 2 (GGC) and No. 3 in the tournament's bracket. Brandon Nguyen led off the bottom of the frame with a home run to deep center field and later had a triple that brought home two more runs. In between, the Warriors had a two-RBI double and took advantage of a fielding error, a wild pitch and a walk by the Grizzlies.   
 
Key Plays
Bottom of First
Brandon Nguyen opened the game by hitting a home run to deep center field
Jackson Reed hit a two-RBI double to left field
A fielding error and wild pitch allowed two more runs to score
Brandon Nguyen hit a triple to center field that brought home two more runs
Jackson Jaha singled to center field, scoring Nguyen
Izzy Madariaga hit a double that scored the ninth run of the inning
 
Top of Sixth
Chris Tillery hit a home run to center field for GGC's first run of the game
 
Bottom of Sixth
Izzy Madariaga homered to right field
Ryan Prescott doubled down the right field line, scoring two more runs for a 12-1 lead
 
Inside The Numbers 

• Lewis-Clark outhit GGC by a 14-3 margin, with two home runs, one triple and four doubles
• Junior second baseman Chris Tillery hit a home run for the Grizzlies' lone run
• The Warriors' right-handed starting pitcher, junior Mason Goodson, kept GGC's offense off balance throughout the game, striking out six hitters and inducing 10 ground outs
• Lewis-Clark State's leadoff hitter Brandon Nyugen had a home run, triple and walk while driving in three runs

News & Notes 

• No. 2 seed GGC's season ends with a 49-8 record in 2026; Lewis-Clark State, the No. 3 seed, advances with a 45-8 mark
• Georgia Gwinnett played in the World Series for the eighth straight season and ninth time in program history
• The Grizzlies' starting lineup had two seniors (catcher Grant Pohlman and pitcher Gavin LeBlanc), seven juniors and one freshman
• Saturday's game marked the first meeting between the two programs at the Avista NAIA World Series