FRIDAY’S GAME

ATHENS — The Georgia Bulldogs gave coach Scott Stricklin just what the doctor ordered.

Stricklin, still quarantined at home while recovering from COVID-19, watched on television as his team stepped up with what turned out to be a historic performance at Clemson. Eight UGA pitchers combined to lead the No. 23 Bulldogs to a 2-0 win over the school’s longtime base- ball rivals.

It was the first time since 1936 that UGA shut out the Tigers on their home field. Freshman left-hander Charlie Goldstein was awarded the win in one inning of work on a “staff night” in which

Georgia vs. South Carolina, 6 p.m., 1230, 106.3

Georgia pitchers gave up only five hits. Their work was witnessed in person by a socially distanced crowd of 1,280 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium and an ACC Network TV audience.

Freshman Will Pearson provided two scoreless frames and two strikeouts following Goldstein. Jack Gowen was next and allowed a hit and a walk and struck out two in the fourth. Collin Caldwell started the fifth and went 1⅓ innings. Nolan Crisp and Michael Polkeach pitched an inning. Ben Harris was the seventh pitcher of the night but left with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Darryn Pasqua came on and extinguished the threat with three strikeouts. Clem- son finished 0-for-8 with run- ners in scoring position.

“Darryn came into a tough situation and threw with a lot of confidence,” said Scott Dae- ley, serving as interim head coach in Stricklin’s absence. “He had a calm demeanor and attacked their hitters.”

Georgia (17-7, 2-4 SEC) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Riley King drew a lead- off walk, took second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Parks Harber. In the fourth, Harber made it 2-0 on a fielder’s choice that scored Corey Collins, who had drawn a leadoff walk.

“Offensively, I thought we swungthe battersbetter even though we had just six hits,” Daeley said. “We had a chance to extend the lead a few times and didn’t. It was a mixed bag. We have to execute bet- ter when we have chances to score.”

With its second win in a row, the Bulldogs hope to carry the momentum into the week. Georgia will host No. 14 South Carolina (17-6) in a three-game series that starts Friday night.

The plan is for Stricklin to see that one in person. Pend- ing doctors’ orders, of course.