The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
UGA pitching flounders in series loss at Tennessee
Georgia scores 27 runs in three games but still loses twice.
At the start of each week during the regular season, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will take a closer look at the Georgia baseball team. Here’s a breakdown of the Bulldogs going into the seventh week:
Record: 22-6, 4-5 SEC.
Streak: Lost 2.
Ranking: No. 23.
Last Week (1-2): Tuesday, vs. Mercer postponed, weather; Friday, won at Tennessee 16-2 (7 innings); Saturday, lost at Tennessee 16-11; Sunday, lost at Tennessee 7-0.
This Week: Today, vs. Georgia State (15-12); Friday at Mississippi State (1910, 4-5 SEC), 7 p.m.; Saturday at Mississippi State, 8 p.m. (SEC Network); Sunday at Mississippi State, 2 p.m.
Week in review: Even though the Bulldogs were unable to win the series against No. 5 Tennessee, it was not an awful weekend overall. It’s a long SEC season and being 4-5 in the league through three series is a place from which much success can be had.
Once again, Georgia made a statement with its bats, run-ruling the Vols in seven innings Friday and keeping the Vols on the ropes until late in Saturday’s game.
The Bulldogs, who lead the nation in home runs, clubbed four more to give them 78 on the season and run-rule the Vols for the first time ever in league play. Corey Collins, a former North Gwinnett High standout, hit two homers and drove in six runs to lead a 14-hit attack.
Pitching was the difference Saturday and Sunday. The Vols got to Georgia’s bullpen and hit two grand slams Saturday to rally from a 7-3 deficit. In the series finale, the Bulldogs simply could not muster anything against Vols starter Zander Sechrist, a former Flowery Branch High standout who pitched the first six innings of the 7-0 shutout. It was the first time Georgia was held scoreless this season.
The Bulldogs had a chance to get to Sechrist. But Slate Alford was gunned out at home in the fourth inning on the third of three consecutive singles, the last of which bounced off the wall and provided a perfect carom for the throw-out.
Georgia pitchers held their own. Led by starter Christian Mracna (3-2), who had seven strikeouts and zero walks, they had 13 strikeouts and two walks. But the Vols made the most of their scoring opportunities.
Week ahead: The Bulldogs beat Georgia State 15-0 in a run-rule victory earlier this year in Atlanta. Something similar would be helpful as Georgia prepares for the SEC road for a second consecutive weekend.
No. 22 Mississippi State (19-10, 4-5) dropped two of three in back-to-back road series against Florida and Texas A&M. It plays Central Arkansas tonight.
There’s little doubt State still will be stinging from the way its last SEC outing went down. Florida star Jac Caglianone hit a two-run blast in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Gators to a 4-3 win in the rubber game of their series in Gainesville. Both UF wins in the series came in the ninth.