Three triples, freshman’s HR lift UGA to 10-2 win

Freshman Mitchell Webb hit his first home run and the Bulldogs collected three triples as Georgia (2-0) defeated Eastern Illinois 10-2 on Saturday to clinch the series in front of 2,005 at Foley Field in Athens.

Zack Bowers, Brandon Stephens and Stephen Wrenn tripled for the Bulldogs in another offensive outburst after scoring 18 runs on Friday. Junior Ryan Lawlor (1-0) earned the win after giving up two runs on four hits in six innings of work.

“We no-hit them after the first inning, so defensively again another solid outing,” Georgia coach Scott Stricklin said. “Ryan got the ball up and made a couple of bad 0-2 pitches (in the first inning), but for him to come back with five scoreless after that, and hitless as well, was huge.”

Nick King (2-for-4, run) and Skyler Weber (1-for-3, two runs) continued Georgia’s hot streak at the plate. The Bulldogs finished with 12 hits and five walks after jumping out to a 9-2 lead after three innings. Sean McLaughlin (two innings, no hits, walk, two strikeouts) and Connor Jones (one inning, three strikeouts) combined to finish the game for Georgia.

Georgia tied a school record Saturday for the eighth time in Bulldog history by hitting three triples in a game.

The last time was March 1, 2013, against UAB.

The Bulldogs had seven triples in 2014.

The Panthers’ Christian Slazinik (0-1) took the loss after giving up nine runs in three innings as EIU dropped to 0-2.

Georgia Tech: The Jackets split a doubleheader with visiting Fordham on Saturday. Fordham won the first game 9-4. Tech won the second game 7-5. Georgia Tech opened the season Friday night by routing St. John’s 17-3.

Kennesaw State: The Owls lost to visiting St. John’s 6-2 on Saturday. On Friday, KSU defeated Liberty 11-9.