Story written by Dale Long, A.I.I. SID/Gerogia Gwinnett SID

Big innings propelled Georgia Gwinnett College and Fisher College (Massachusetts) to victories in Saturday's first day of the Association of Independent Institutions 2021 Baseball Championship at GGC's Grizzly Baseball Complex in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

Top-seeded Georgia Gwinnett College defeated No. 4 seed Crowley's Ridge College (Arkansas) 15-0 in seven innings before No. 2 seed Fisher picked up an 11-7 triumph over No. 3 seed Xavier University (Louisiana).

The Grizzlies scored six runs in the first inning and added two more runs one inning later to grab a quick 8-0 lead. Meanwhile, Fisher pushed across seven runs to turn a 3-0 deficit into a 7-3 advantage. The Falcons would not look back in capturing the victory.

Game #2 – No. 2 Fisher College 11, No. 3 Xavier University (Louisiana) 7

Fisher College scored seven times in the third inning to grab a 7-3 lead and advance to the winner's bracket.

A walk to John Batista tied the game at 3-3. Then, Jordan Gosselin lined a two-run single to give the Falcons the lead for good at 5-3. A squeeze bunt from Reynaldo Vega and an RBI single from Reynaldo Mejia capped the big third inning.

Xavier took a 3-0 lead on a three-run home run from Tristan Rodriguez.

The Gold Rush got two runs closer, 7-5, in the bottom of the third inning following an RBI double from Courtland Posey and a run-scoring single from Michael Sonn.

Xavier loaded the bases in the seventh inning while trailing 11-6, but Fisher left hander Jose Galan got a strikeout and a fly out to end the threat. Galan tossed 2.2 innings in relief to pick up the victory.

Gosselin led the Falcons with three hits and four RBI, while Mitchell Lundholm scored three times.

Jonathan Santos and Sonn paced Xavier with two hits apiece.

Game #1 – No. 1 Georgia Gwinnett College 15, No. 4 Crowley's Ridge College 0

A fast start and strong pitching were ingredients of the winning recipe for Georgia Gwinnett College in its tournament opener.

Gabe Howell and Chase Evans each drove in four runs to lead the team's 15-hit offensive attack. Both contributed to the big opening inning as Howell drove in a pair of runs with a single to center field. Evans cleared the bases with a three-run double to give the tournament hosts a 6-0 lead.

GGC would add two runs in the second and fourth innings to build a 10-0 lead. Then, the team scored five more runs in the top of the seventh inning. Howell added two RBI with a double in the late surge.

Hunter Dollander went the distance on the mound to improve to 10-1 on the season. The right hander allowed just two hits and struck out 13 batters in the tournament game.

Crowley's Ridge, making its A.I.I. tournament debut, got base hits from Nate Finney and Austin Gross.