LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. --- NAIA No. 3-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College handed the University of St. Francis baseball team its first shutout of the season on Tuesday afternoon, defeating the Fighting Saints 11-0 at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

USF (3-8) managed just five hits in the seven-inning affair with only five baserunners getting into scoring position.  Only two of those runners reached third base and both times came with two outs.

Jake Merda provided two of the hits in three at-bats, including the only one that went for extra bases (double).  Brayan Hidalgo, Nate Maliska and Cliff Vickers recorded the other singles.

Georgia Gwinnett (17-2) hit for the cycle in the first inning as part of its four-run, five-hit opening frame, which included a lead-off home run by Jon Ponder.  The Grizzlies added a single run one inning later before scoring six times in the sixth inning.

Five walks and a hit batsman fueled the second big inning.  For the game, USF pitchers walked eight and hit another three batters, while also yielding nine hits.

Up Next
The Saints wrap up their swing though the south with a 2 pm CST contest against Truett McConnell University on Wednesday (March 5).

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