It was a beautiful and chilly weekend in Athens, as the Bulldogs hosted a four-game series in newly-renovated Foley Field. The University of Illinois Chicago Flames hoped to play spoiler to Georgia’s 2025 home opener. Slate Alford and the Bulldog bats had other plans.
“I liked our swings all day,” said head coach Wes Johnson. “Our guys are getting a little more and more comfortable with their approach…”
Georgia scored 51 runs in just three days of baseball. The offense that shocked and amazed all throughout last season seems to be back again with new faces. The Bulldogs swept the four-game series with relative ease on the back of Alford’s four doubles, one triple, and 8 for 14 weekend. The sure hand at third may have earned himself SEC Player of the Week honors with his dazzling performances.
The first game was originally rescheduled due to inclement weather, but Georgia didn’t flinch. The pitching staff notched 11 strikeouts and only allowed three runs, headlined by Zach Brown’s excellent four innings of relief. He notched his first win of the season, striking out seven batters and only allowing one run. The offense got the job done by stealing five bags and taking advantage of the Flames’ errors. It was the lowest-scoring game of the series, as Georgia only put up nine runs, winning 9-3.
Game 2 started 45 minutes later, and the Dawgs unloaded, winning by a score of 15-1 that was called in the seventh. Georgia’s ace, Leighton Finley, played as advertised, lasting five innings, striking out eight, and not allowing a single run. He was awarded his first win of the season. The bats gave Finley insurance he didn’t need but loved to see. Ryland Zaborowski nailed a grand slam in the first inning, putting Georgia up 6-0 after the first frame. Cade Brown and Henry Hunter also got in on the fun, sending big flies out into the trees. Several Bulldogs got extra-base hits, and the season’s first night game ended with little drama.
Game 3 saw the Dawgs tested for the first time. In front of a sold-out crowd, the Bulldogs found themselves down four to nothing in the third. The Flames got to starting pitcher Brian Zeldin on a couple of bad pitches, and the crowd became quiet. The new transfer out of Alabama, Alton Davis II came in to put out the spark. He pitched three innings of shutout baseball and was awarded his second win of the year. Matthew Hoskins finished the job, pitching 3 2/3 innings of shutout baseball, striking out five and only allowing two hits. The bats responded in earnest. Off two three-run homers, the Bulldogs scored 10 unanswered runs and kept the potential sweep intact, winning 10-4.
Game 4 saw the Bulldogs hit their stride at a new level. Early on the game seemed competitive, with the Flames scoring three runs in the first two innings. The starting pitcher for the Bulldogs, JT Quinn, left after just one inning of work and Justin Byrd, who came in relief, only lasted 1 1/3 innings. Going into the fifth, Georgia led 6-3, and the Flames hoped to come back. Then in the sixth inning, things got out of hand fast. After putting up four runs in the frame, Tre Phelps, who has had a quiet start to the year, mashed a pitch over the left-field wall and scored three runs.
However, the Flames tossed the ball first and began heading to the dugout. Phelps had apparently not stepped on the bag rounding first. Johnson challenged the ruling. The umps ruled Phelps safe, his foot having touched a green extension of first base. The Bulldogs took full advantage of their extra out, scoring three more runs in the inning. Several starters were pinch hit, but the bench showed out with their hitting. The sixth inning saw Georgia score ten times, and the game was called due to travel restrictions.
Georgia’s offense is beginning to click in that impressive fashion that should intimidate opposing pitchers. Now 8-1, the Bulldogs go on the road Tuesday to face Georgia State in Atlanta.
