UGA Baseball: Bulldogs Blast Wildcats To Win SEC Series
| Team | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 11 | 1 | |
| 17 | 18 | 1 |
ATHENS, Ga. — The No. 20 Georgia Bulldogs blasted Kentucky 17-6 Sunday at Foley Field to clinch a Southeastern Conference series
The Bulldogs (23-12, 7-8 SC) pounded out 18 hits with seven starters registering a multi-hit game and five with multiple RBI. The Bulldog employed seven pitchers with freshman Jaden Woods providing 2.1 scoreless innings and four strikeouts in relief for his second career victory. He picked up a save in Saturday’s game as well. The Wildcats dropped to 22-11, 7-8 in the SEC.
Georgia scored first with a three-run homer in the bottom of the second inning from freshman Fernando Gonzalez (3-for-5, 4 RBI) who set a career high in hits and RBI. Graduate Riley King and senior Chaney Rogers (3-for-5, 2 RBI) were on base after each had a base-hit. It was the first career home run for Gonzalez as a Bulldog. Kentucky promptly responded in the top of the third. Oraj Anu’s double to right field drove in two runs and the Wildcats would score two more runs in the inning off of a single and an error. The Bulldogs offense struck back in the bottom of the third, scoring five runs off of six hits to take an 8-4 lead. Georgia added to their lead in the fourth, scoring two runs. King (3-for-3, 3 RBI) notched his second home run of the season and drove in Corey Collins who reached base on walk. The Bulldogs would add single runs in the fifth and six and pushed across five more in the eighth. Kentucky got one run in the ninth for the final.
Georgia returns to Foley Field Tuesday night when they face the Clemson Tigers. First pitch is schedule for 7:02 p.m. ET and will be televised on the SEC Network and can be heard on the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network.
Georgia’s Ike Cousins Head Coach Scott Stricklin
On getting 17 runs this afternoon…
“I think our hitters just had a really good approach. Coach (Scott) Daeley, after we scored three, in the second, was talking about 10, we need 10, we need 10. And then when we got to 10, we need 15. It’s just a really aggressive approach by our hitters today. I thought we had great at bats all the way through. We drew some walks, got some big hits, big two-out hits. And overall it was just a really good performance by our offensive team.”
Jaden Woods, Freshman, LHP
On his confidence on the mound in big moments…
“I would say just keeping a clear head and not making the situation bigger than it already is. Just coming in and thinking with the two-out release situations, I come in thinking with the mindset that I have to get three outs instead of one out. Because the times I have thought that I just have to get one out, things have gone a little rough. So, with the mindset, the clear head mindset, and also the mindset that I have to get three outs instead of one has really helped me a lot.”
Fernando Gonzalez, Freshman, C
On the coaches’ message to the offense…
“It was just a good game. We took at bats as a team, and I think that Coach Daeley always points out to be a good hitter from one to nine, and you’re going to be in good shape.”