After being swept in a three-game series last weekend by Texas, the Georgia Bulldogs hoped to turn things around against the top-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks. The Razorbacks threw a wrench into those plans on a cool night in Foley Field, taking Game 1 in laugher fashion, winning by a score of 13-3, in Athens, Georgia.
“We had opportunities there… that’s the difference in games like this and in this league,” said Georgia head coach Wes Johnson.
The game started very well for Georgia. A crowd nearing 4,000 had come to watch the top 10 teams battle it out. Brian Curley started for the Bulldogs and looked strong. He touched 97 with his fastball and had plenty of swing-and-miss action on his off-speed pitches. Curley was perfect the first time through the order, with five strikeouts.
The Bulldog offense effectively broke through the lights out, starting pitching from the Razorbacks. Daniel Jackson hit a double into the left gap, allowing Devin Obee to pick up a sacrifice RBI in the third. Then Kolby Branch mashed a two-run homer past the right field wall, giving the Dawgs a 3-0 lead to start. Branch has had a very strong week, hitting three homers in two games with seven RBIs.
Then, the game began to unravel for Georgia. A three-run top of the fourth tied the game as Arkansas capitalized on the first baserunners Curley allowed. The Bulldogs had an opportunity to retake the lead in the fifth with two men in scoring position and one out. Ryland Zaborowski, who was recently put on the Golden Spikes award watch list, was next up to bat but struck out swinging. Robbie Burnett also struck out to leave two men in scoring position in the fifth.
It was a night of missed opportunities, with Georgia leaving six crucial men on base. Arkansas’ powerful bullpen allowed the Razorbacks to score six unanswered and take a three-run lead into the ninth. Then, the game fell apart. Arkansas rattled off seven runs in dominating fashion. JT Quinn received the loss on his pitching record, but several Bulldog relief men are responsible for the 13 unanswered runs that crossed home plate.
Georgia hopes to shake off the loss and take the series over the final two games against the top-ranked team. Friday night’s loss marks Georgia’s fourth defeat in conference play.
“We’re not going to let one game, or one series take us down. We’re going to be fine. We’re going to show up to the yard tomorrow with energy and we’ll be just fine,” said Branch.
