Grizzlies outlast Pride by 7-4 final in delayed weekend opener in Georgia

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Facing their fourth team mentioned in the 2023 NAIA Preseason Poll top-10 during their non-conference schedule, the Clarke University baseball team had the tying run up at the plate in the ninth inning in their 7-4 loss to Georgia Gwinnett College on Friday night.

With the game originally scheduled for 5:00 p.m. CT/6:00 p.m. ET, rain delayed the start for three hours as the delay didn't seem to slow the Pride down as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on a Greg Bennett RBI double and a Victor Lara RBI single. 

GGC answered in the bottom of the third with three runs of their own as leadoff man Jon Ponder doubled home two runs to tie the game and was later scored on a sacrifice fly later in the inning.

Clarke would go scoreless into the ninth inning as the Grizzlies grew their lead to 7-2 with two in the sixth and a single run in both the fourth and seventh innings as they scored six of the seven off of CU starter Tyson Tucker, who was charged for four earned of the six total runs on seven hits, three walks, and six strikeouts in a 5.1-inning outing.

Georgia Gwinnett starter Cameron Repetti settled in after the pair of runs allowed in the second inning to earn his third win of the season in a six inning outing while allowing nine hits but striking out 11 Pride batters. 

Lara finished with a 4-for-5 night as he, Daniel Phyle, Maguire Fitzgerald, and Bennett all finished with mutli-hit games as Bennett also finished off the game on the mound with 2.2 innings pitched, allowing an earned run on three hits with one walk.

Clarke baseball will wrap up their Georgia trip tomorrow with a morning start for their first game at 11:00 a.m. ET/10:00 a.m. CT against Lourdes University before a rematch with the Grizzlies to take place at approximately 1:00 p.m. CT/2:00 p.m. ET.