Pioneers Fall to No. 2 Georgia Gwinnett, 11-1

Lawrenceville, Georgia – The No. 2 seed Spartanburg Methodist College baseball team dropped an 11–1 decision to No. 1 seed and No. 2 ranked Georgia Gwinnett on Saturday afternoon. A five-run first inning by the host Grizzlies set the tone for the seven-inning victory over the Pioneers.

Georgia Gwinnett sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the first, scoring five runs on two hits while capitalizing on four walks and an SMC error to take an early lead. The Grizzlies extended their advantage with three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings before SMC got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single by Matt Smith.

With one out, Leo Lopez doubled down the left-field line. Smith then singled through the left side, bringing in Lopez from second for SMC's lone run of the game.

The Pioneers stranded two baserunners each in the third and fourth innings. Smith and Justin Dawkins each recorded two hits to lead SMC's six-hit effort. Four different Grizzlies had two hits, contributing to their 12-hit performance. Jackson Cobb and Tyler Martin each drove in two runs for GGC. Starting pitcher Ben Harris threw a complete game, striking out eight and improving his record to 10–0.

Due to weather, the Pioneers' elimination game has been moved to Sunday at 11 a.m., where they will face Fisher College, who previously lost to Georgia Gwinnett in Friday's tournament opener and withstood elimination with a win over Florida National on Saturday.