LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team used two different approaches to pick up a pair of victories Saturday against Edward Waters College (Fla.) on Military Appreciation Day at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.
GGC (31-8) scored three runs in the sixth inning to score a 4-3 come-from-behind victory in the first game of the day. Then, the team came back to collect 15 hits in a 12-1 triumph in the late afternoon.
The victories extended the Grizzlies’ winning streak to nine straight games, while they have now won 12 of the last 13 games.
Trailing 3-1 in the sixth inning of the opener, the Georgia Gwinnett College got back-to-back doubles from senior Brody Wofford and junior Gabe Austin to trim the margin to 3-2. Austin would later score the tying run. Then, sophomore Cam Coursey hit a fielder’s choice to bring home sophomore Cord Johnson for the eventual game-winning run.
Senior reliever Matthew Swain tossed 3.2 scoreless innings to pick up his third win of the season.
In the second game, GGC broke open the contest behind a five-run fourth inning, with Coursey’s two-run home run being the big hit of the frame. Senior Brenton Burgess added a three-run homer in the sixth inning.
Senior Tucker Plouffe struck out three batters across six innings to pick up the pitching victory.
Seniors Alex Garland and Brandon Robinson, sophomore Livingston Morris, Wofford and Johnson each collected two hits in the second game.
Turning Point
The Grizzlies fought their way back to win the opener 4-3 behind a big sixth inning. Back-to-back doubles cut the team’s deficit to 3-2 in a scheduled seven-inning game. A fielder’s choice from sophomore Cam Coursey allowed sophomore Cord Johnson to score the go-ahead run. Senior Matthew Swain tossed 3.2 scoreless innings in relief to pick up the victory.
Key Plays
First Game
Bottom of Fifth
Cam Coursey began the comeback with a RBI triple to bring home Nick Tanner and cut the deficit to 3-1
Bottom of Sixth
Gabe Austin hit a run-scoring double to trim the deficit to 3-2
Cam Coursey reached on a fielder’s choice and Cord Johnson scored on the play to give GGC a 4-3 lead
Second Game
Bottom of Second
Alex Garland hit a RBI double to open the scoring
Brenton Burgess connected on a sacrifice fly to bring home the second run of the inning
Bottom of Third
Gabe Austin hit a sacrifice fly to score C.J. Ballard to give the Grizzlies a 3-1 lead
Cord Johnson singled home the second run of the inning
Bottom of Fourth
Cam Coursey connected on a two-run home run
Bottom of Sixth
Brenton Burgess hit a three-run home run to close out the scoring
Inside The Numbers
- The Grizzlies tallied 23 hits in the doubleheader sweep, highlighted by 15 hits in the second contest
- Five players had multiple-hit performances in the second game
- Senior shortstop Brenton Burgess recorded five assists
- Four of GGC’s eight hits in the opener went for extra bases
News & Notes
- GGC improves to 31-8 on the season; Edward Waters drops to 18-30
- Georgia Gwinnett College is No. 4 in the NAIA Top 25 poll
- The team is 24-5 at the Grizzly Baseball Complex this season
- The Grizzlies have won all eight meetings played between the two programs
Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College hosts William Carey University (Miss.) in the opener of a two-game midweek series that begins Tuesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.