GWINNETT, Ga. – The Talladega College baseball team defeated No. 2 Georgia Gwinnett College 4-3 on the road this afternoon. This was the second meeting between both teams with the series now tied 1-1. Today's loss for the Grizzles is only their fourth of the season. Talladega is now 14-10 while Georgia Gwinnett is 21-4.

After a scoreless first inning for both teams, the Grizzles grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second off a leadoff home run to left field.

Talladega responded in the top of the third as it tied the game at one off a double and single from Jose Santiago and Eddie Velazquez.

Both teams would go scoreless for the next three innings, but Talladega plated three runs in the top of the seventh. It all started when Nomar Garcia laid down a bunt single with one out. He later moved to second when Isaac Guzman walked. Both runners then moved up another 90 feet when Jesuette Dominguez singled up the middle. Dominquez was lifted for pinch-runner Jeriel Lamboy. With bases loaded, Armando Jackson's RBI single up the middle scored Garcia to make it 2-1 and reload the bases for the Tornadoes.  Santiago kept the inning going as he singled through the left side to score Guzman to make it, 3-1. Following a flyout to third for the second out of the inning, Victor Rivera walked to score Lamboy to put Talladega up 4-1 before the inning ended.

The Grizzlies were able to get one of the three runs back in the bottom half of the seventh to cut the lead to two.

Headed into the bottom of the ninth up 4-2, the Grizzles hit back-to-back doubles to make it a 4-3 game with one out. With the tying run on second, reliever Ramses Ortega was able to get a flyout for the second out before Georgia Gwinnett got the winning run on first but a strikeout looking ended the game.

Talladega had four different players score and drive in runs.

Santiago finished the day going 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored for the Tornadoes. Fellow teammate Velazquez went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a double.

Starting pitcher Jose Franco picked up the win to improve to 5-1 on the season. He scattered five hits over the course of 6.1 innings allowing two runs (both earned) while striking out eight.

Ortega threw 2.2 innings allowing four hits and one run (earned) to earn his first save of the season. He fanned four in the process.

Talladega is back in action tomorrow when it takes on Loyola University (La.) at 10 a.m. and then will face Georgia Gwinnett at 4 p.m. for the third time this season.