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Georgia Gwinnett College Athletics

Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies

2026 CAC Baseball

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Grizzlies Sweep Way to 2026 CAC Title

The Gold Standard.

Wearing the cherished gold-colored uniforms that are reserved for championship-caliber events, the top-seeded Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team left no doubt about who was the best team in the 2026 Continental Athletic Conference Championship tournament, beating No. 2 seed Westcliff University (California) 12-1 in Friday afternoon's title game at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

GGC (46-6), the nation's No. 3 ranked team, outscored its three CAC opponents by a combined 34-9 score, posted an .354 batting average and collected 16 extra-base hits, including 10 doubles and three home runs, over the course of the three-day tournament.

"We're a team with a special group of players. Everyone contributes on the field and at the plate. It's just a matter of time before we figure things out (against an opponent). Once we do, watch out," said junior left fielder Trey Smith, who earned the Most Outstanding Player honor for the tournament. He smashed a home run in the championship game.

"This team makes the necessary in-game adjustments so well. They're even keeled and stay focused on what matters. For the entire season, we have been focused on playing our best baseball in the postseason and the month of May. It's our time to shine," assessed Head Coach Tommy Goodale as he watched his team celebrate the championship in his first season leading the Grizzlies.

Trey Smith lineup runningThe next step in the team's journey will also be in Lawrenceville as GGC has been selected to host one of the 10 Opening Round sites for this year's NAIA national tournament, starting on May 11. Details about the teams that will be coming to the Grizzly Baseball Complex along with the full 48-team national championship field will be announced May 6 at 5 p.m.

Smith's two-run home run to left-center field broke open a close championship game. That gave the tournament hosts a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. They added three runs in the sixth inning and five more runs in the seventh frame, building a 12-0 lead before Westcliff scored its lone run in the top of the ninth.

Junior third baseman JJ Garcia paced the Grizzlies' offensive attack with a perfect 3-for-3 hitting performance, two RBI and three runs scored. Junior designated hitter Lance Bratlien added two hits and two runs scored, while six other players collected one hit apiece across the team's potent offensive lineup.

Those efforts were supported by starting left-handed pitcher Peyton Castellow, who allowed just four hits and no runs, with four strikeouts, over the first five innings. He improved his record to 7-0 for the season. Providing strong relief pitching performances were sophomore Fisher Smith (two strikeouts in two innings) and seniors Carson Judd (one inning) and Christian Johnson (one inning).





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