COLUMBIA, Ky. – Senior Alex Garland and sophomore Nick Barnes each homered twice as the No. 4-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team cruised to a 19-2 seven-inning victory Friday at Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) to begin a weekend series.
The victory, the 12th straight of the season, improved the Grizzlies’ record to 34-8. Both teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday.
Garland’s two home runs now give him 19 homers for his career – a new program record. The record breaker came in the fourth inning when he came off the bench to connect on a three-run round tripper. He later added a grand slam during the team’s six-run seventh inning.
Barnes gave GGC a 6-0 lead with a two-run home run in the second inning. The outfielder added his seventh home run of the season with a solo effort in the seventh inning.
The Grizzlies took control of the game by scoring six runs in the fourth inning and followed with another six-run frame in the seventh.
Sophomore Cord Johnson collected four of the team’s 20 hits in the victory. Freshman Ali LaPread added three hits, with three runs scored in the game. Sophomore Livingston Morris, Barnes and Garland rounded out the team’s multiple-hit performers, with each having two hits.
Junior starting pitcher Hunter Caudelle struck out four batters across five innings to pick up the victory. Sophomore Michael Cherwenka tossed the final two innings in relief.
GGC’s 19 runs and 20 hits were season highs, surpassing the 18 runs on 18 hits the team had during the season’s first meeting with Lindsey Wilson on Feb. 8 in Lawrenceville.
Turning Point
A new name stands atop GGC’s career home run list as senior Alex Garland came off the bench in the fourth inning and connected on a three-run homer. He passed Brady Hamilton in the record book with his 18th career home run. Garland would later add a second homer of the game, with a grand slam in the seventh inning.
Key Plays
Top of Second
Nick Barnes connected on a two-run home run to give the visitors a 6-0 lead
Top of Fourth
Alex Garland hit a three-run home run to cap a six-run inning
Top of Seventh
Nick Barnes hit his second home run of the game
Alex Garland connected on a grand slam that was the team’s 20th hit of the game – a season high
Inside The Numbers
- The Grizzlies collected a season-high 20 hits in the victory
- Eleven different Grizzlies recorded a hit, led by sophomore Cord Johnson with four hits
- Friday’s four homers increase GGC’s season total to 41
- GGC scored a run in five of its seven offensive innings, and put six runs on the scoreboard in the fourth and seventh frames
News & Notes
- GGC improves to 34-8 on the season; Lindsey Wilson stands 7-26 this spring
- Georgia Gwinnett College is No. 4 in the NAIA Top 25 poll
- Senior Alex Garland set the program career home run record with his fourth-inning homer; he later added another in the seventh frame to now have 19 homers for his career
- The Grizzlies have won 12 straight games
Up Next
The two teams conclude the weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 13, at 2 p.m. from Columbia, Ky.