The sixth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs hosted the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles in a four-game series this weekend. All four games ended in wins for the Bulldogs, who now boast a 10-game winning streak and a 12-1 record as the season nears conference play.
“As the coach, you have to stay calm and just believe that your guys are going to come back and get off really good swings, have really good at bats and whoever you’re putting in a game is going to get outs, and we did that again,” said head coach Wes Johnson.
Game 1 saw Georgia down 5-0 after the first inning, as its ace, Leighton Finley, got hammered right out of the gate. Despite usually being a steady hand on the mound, Finley only lasted two innings, striking out one. Daniel Jackson put the team on his back in response, recording the hardest and farthest hits of the year for the Dawgs and putting up the first multi-homer game of the year at Georgia.
After key errors from the Eagles, Georgia reclaimed the lead. But after a game-tying triple in the top of the ninth, Georgia needed a little more spark to get them over the hump. A bases-loaded grounder from star third baseman Slate Alford might’ve seen the Dawgs doubled up, but the throw home from first was well off line, and Georgia walked off a 10-9 victory.
Johnson urged the team to start faster, and they responded in the next game. The Bulldogs grabbed the lead off a homer from Robbie Burnett right in the first inning and never relinquished it. Georgia’s offense scored in all but one inning of play, with big flies coming from Nolan McCarthy, Alford and Jackson. However, the pitching for the Dawgs showed out in this one.
The Bulldogs allowed just two hits all game and shut out the Eagles. After returning from an offseason injury, Charlie Goldstein got the start, his first appearance of the season. Zach Brown picked up the win with just one hit allowed in three innings. In the seventh inning, Alford once again found himself in a game-winning situation with the bases loaded. He hit a sac fly into deep left that saw the Dawgs go up 10-0 and the run-rule go into effect.
Game 3 was the second of a doubleheader that followed an hour later, and couldn’t have been more different. The Dawgs started Alton Davis, who typically pitches in relief, and found themselves down 6-0 after the first inning. Ryland Zaborowski put the team on the board in the third with his first homer of the weekend, and Alford added a run on a double.
But in the next inning, FGCU scored the two runs back, and the Dawgs went down 8-2. The Dawgs then rattled off seven unanswered runs over five innings to secure the win. The pitching staff saw six men toe the slab, but Brian Curley’s three innings of work with five strikeouts and no runs allowed got the win.
Used to this by now, Alford found himself with another chance to win a game and delivered with a run-scoring single that gave the Bulldogs a 9-8 victory over the Eagles. When asked about his performance, Alford remained ever humble.
“Coach gave me a good game plan, and if it wasn’t me, it would’ve been someone else, so just give God the glory,” he said.
Game 4 saw a pitcher’s duel, with neither team scoring until the sixth inning. J.T. Quinn got the start for the Dawgs and pitched impressively, not allowing a run, but he was pulled quickly, being on a pitch count.
Tyler McLoughlin faced the only trouble of the day, allowing three runs to score in the sixth on an error and a groundout. Jordan Stephens earned the win as he held the Eagles in check over 1 ⅓ innings of work, not allowing a hit.
The Georgia offense managed to get hits, but the Eagles had some key double plays that doused their fire. After scraping a couple of runs across, the Bulldogs found themselves down one with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Ryan Black stepped up in a pinch hitter role and crushed a two-run homer right near the scoreboard and the Bulldogs swept the series.
The Bulldogs continue to find ways to get it done, whether through timely hitting or pitching, and they are still red hot.
