LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Despite holding the lead twice in the road contest, the USCB baseball team fell to nationally-ranked No. 3 Georgia Gwinnett, 10-6, to open a three-game road series against the Grizzlies on Saturday.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Bobby Wenthe - 2-for-4, one RBI, three runs, one walk

Chris Vazquez - 2-for-4, one RBI, one run, one walk

Robbie McKinney - 2-for-5, one run

HOW IT HAPPENED

USCB started the contest red hot but couldn't take advantage. Cole Hamilton started the game with a walk, and McKinney put two runners on base with his single to left field. Vazquez grounded out to third, which advanced both Sand Sharks 90 feet, but they were left stranded in scoring position.

GGC scored the game's first run in the bottom of the first. C.J. Ballard scored off a groundout after swiping two bases earlier in the frame. 

After a scoreless second, USCB tied the game and took its first lead in the top of the third. McKinney started the surge with a single through the right side, and Wenthe followed with a walk to put two runners on base. Vazquez smacked a single, and McKinney touched home to tie the game. After a groundout, Wenthe scored from third base to give USCB the 2-1 advantage.

Georgia Gwinnett quickly answered in the bottom of the third with two runs off three hits. The two-run inning gave the Grizzlies the one-run lead, 3-2. 

The Sand Sharks' offense retaliated with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to take its second lead of the game, 4-3. The two-run fifth for USCB came off a fielding error by the Grizzly defense.

In the bottom of the sixth, Georgia Gwinnett plated two runs, as they took advantage of two walks and an error. The defensive miscues allowed the Grizzles to retake the lead, 5-4. 

Again USCB answered, as the Sand Sharks knotted the game at 5-all in the top of the seventh. Steven Mojica put the ball in play, which scored Wenthe from third base. 

The seesaw affair continued in the bottom of the seventh, as GGC tacked on three runs to move ahead by three, 8-5. 

The Sand Sharks cut in to the deficit in the top of the eighth, as Tristan Triplett scored off a Wenthe groundout.

However, the Grizzles put the contest away, 10-6, in the home half of the eighth, as they added a pair of insurance runs.

TEAM RECORD UPDATES

USCB - 21-30 overall

No. 3 Georgia Gwinnett - 39-10 overall

WHAT'S NEXT?

The series between the Sand Sharks and Grizzlies will conclude on Sunday with a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Grizzly Baseball Complex in Lawrenceville.