The No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team hit five home runs and the pitching staff tossed a pair of shutouts to complete a three-game sweep against Continental Athletic Conference opponent Fisher College (Massachusetts) by 13-0 and 12-0 scores Saturday at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.
The Grizzlies (42-6) blasted four pitches over the outfield wall in the opener, with senior Ajay Sczepkowski hitting a pair of home runs. The 2023 NAIA Player of the Year has connected on 46 career home runs.
Junior Paul Winland Jr. hit a homer in each contest.
GGC’s pitching staff also shined on Saturday as senior left hander Kaleb Hill took a no-hitter into the sixth inning during Saturday’s first game. He got nine ground ball outs and struck out four batters to improve his record to 8-1 on the season.
“Kaleb prides himself on being a contact guy (getting ground ball and fly ball outs), but he has the ability to strike anybody out. The guys behind him made plays, including a huge double play in the third inning. When the defense does that, it gives Kaleb even more confidence to do his job on the mound,” said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
In the nightcap, junior Ben Harris scattered five hits across five innings to pick up his ninth victory of the season.
Sczepkowski connected on a three-run home run in the second inning to give the Grizzlies a 5-0 lead in the opening game of the day. Winland Jr. also hit a three-run home run during the fifth inning before junior Caden Smith capped a six-run frame with a home run down the right field line.
The team also jumped out an early 5-0 lead in the first inning of the series finale. Winland Jr. hit a two-run homer to left field after Sczepkowski hit a double to center field.
Later, junior Braxton Meguiar lined a double to left-center field in the fourth inning that scored senior Blaze O’Saben all the way from first base. Junior Henry Daniels added a run-scoring single to right field to extend the lead to 8-0.
GGC set a program record with 269 steals for the season, adding five stolen bases during the nightcap. The Grizzlies broke the previous mark of 265 steals during the 2016 season. This year’s team has six players with 30 or more stolen bases for the season.
“Our guys have done an outstanding job of attacking the bases this season. It’s a significant part of our offense,” said Sheetinger.
O’Saben and Meguiar each went 3-for-4 at the plate in the nightcap. O’Saben opened the second inning with his 10th triple of the season and now has recorded at least 10 doubles, 10 triples and 10 home runs this season.
Sczepkowski drove in five runs and tallied three hits in Saturday’s first contest. Daniels and Smith added multiple-hit efforts for the Grizzlies.
COACH’S CORNER”Kaleb really came out and set the tone for the day as he could throw all of his pitches for strikes. Ben was ultra-dominant and the rest of the guys followed his lead,” said Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger.
TURNING POINTThe Grizzlies flexed their muscles by hitting five home runs, including four round trippers in the opener, to sweep Saturday’s doubleheader. Senior Ajay Sczepkowski hit a pair of homers in the first game, while junior Paul Winland Jr. hit one over the outfield wall once in each game.
KEY PLAYSFirst Game
Top of First
Henry Daniels hit a run-scoring single to left field that opened the scoring
Top of Second
Ajay Sczepkowski connected on a three-run home run that extended the lead to 5-0
Top of Fifth
Paul Winland Jr. hit a three-run home run to right field
Caden Smith added a two-run home run that gave the Grizzlies an 11-0 lead
Top of Sixth
Ajay Sczepkowski hit his second round tripper of the contest to drive in two runs
Second Game
Top of First
Ajay Sczepkowski lined a two-run double to center field
Henry Daniels followed with a run-scoring single to right field
Paul Winland Jr. connected on a two-run home run hat gave the Grizzlies a 5-0 lead
Top of Second
Ajay Sczepkowski hit an RBI ground out to third base to score Blaze O’Saben
Top of Fourth
Braxton Meguiar lined an RBI double that scored Blaze O’Saben from first base
Henry Daniels added a run-scoring single that extended the lead to 8-0
Top of Fifth
Peyton Peoples successfully stole second base and later scored after the throw sailed into center field for the 10th run of the contest
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- GGC tallied 25 hits across Saturday’s doubleheader sweep
- The Grizzlies connected on five home runs with senior Ajay Sczepkowski and junior Paul Winland Jr. each hitting two round trippers
- Senior Blaze O’Saben had his 10th triple of the season during the second contest
- Five pitchers combined to allow eight hits across both games
NEWS & NOTES
- GGC improves to 42-6 this spring; Fisher drops to 24-26 in 2024
- The Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the latest NAIA Top 25 poll, announced on Wednesday, April 24
- The team has a 39-1 record against Fisher in the all-time series
- Georgia Gwinnett College set a program single-season record with 269 steals, breaking the previous mark of 266 stolen bases set during the 2016 campaign
- GGC and Fisher are members of the Continental Athletic Conference
UP NEXT
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to conclude the regular season by hosting a doubleheader against Carolina University (North Carolina) on Tuesday, April 30, at the Grizzly Baseball Complex, starting at 3 p.m.
