ATHENS, Tenn. – The No. 3-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team dropped a 9-5 contest at No. 2 Tennessee Wesleyan University on Tuesday afternoon in the Grizzlies’ final road game of the regular season.
The host Bulldogs (41-8) hit two home runs during a six-run fourth inning to build a commanding 7-2 lead.
However, senior Alex Garland answered for GGC (36-10) with a pair of home runs late in the contest to make things interesting in the later innings. A two-run blast came in the seventh inning before a solo homer came in the ninth inning.
Max Draijer led Tennessee Wesleyan’s 12-hit attack by going 3-for-3, with three runs scored and two RBI.
GGC seniors C.J. Ballard, Brenton Burgess and Garland each collected two hits in the team’s nine-hit offensive attack.
The team closes out the regular season with five home games, starting with a doubleheader against Talladega College (Ala.) on Wednesday, April 24, at 3 p.m. at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.
Turning Point
The Bulldogs hit two home runs during a six-run fourth inning. Adrian Marquez led off the inning with a home run to tie the game. Then, with Tennessee Wesleyan leading 4-2, Aloysius Cruz added a two-run homer.
Key Plays
Top of Third
C.J. Ballard scored on a RBI ground out from Brody Wofford to give the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead
Bottom of Fourth
Adrian Marquez led off the inning with a home run to tie the game
Max Draijer hit a two-run single to give the Bulldogs a 4-2 lead
Aloysius Cruz connected on a two-run home run
Bottom of Fifth
Manny Perez drove in a pair of runs for Tennessee Wesleyan with a single
Top of Seventh
Alex Garland connected on a two-run home run to close the gap for GGC
Top of Ninth
Alex Garland added a late solo home run
Inside The Numbers
- The Bulldogs out hit the Grizzlies by a 12-to-9 advantage
- Seniors C.J. Ballard, Brenton Burgess and Alex Garland each collected two hits
- Tennessee Wesleyan recorded six stolen bases
News & Notes
- GGC falls to 36-10 on the season; Tennessee Wesleyan improves to 41-8 in 2019
- Georgia Gwinnett College is No. 3 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll; Tennessee Wesleyan stood No. 2 in the same poll
- The game marked the first game for the Grizzlies since a 7-5 loss to No. 8 Middle Georgia State University on April 16
- Tennessee Wesleyan won both games in this year’s season series, winning an 8-3 game Feb. 13 in Lawrenceville, Ga.
- GGC had a 10-4 record in road games during the regular season
Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play its final five games of the regular season at home, starting with a doubleheader against Talladega College (Ala.) on Wednesday, April 24, at 3 p.m. at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.