The Georgia Bulldogs have won six games in a row and are primed for a crucial Southeastern Conference matchup with #23 Alabama. They travel to Tuscaloosa this weekend for a series with postseason implications for both schools.
The Diamond Dawgs (39-11, 15-9 SEC) beat the Kennesaw St. Owls (25-22, 14-6 CUSA) on Tuesday, then swept the Missouri Tigers (13-35, 0-24 SEC) in a three-game set over the weekend. They did this without all-around star Ryland Zaborowski, who suffered an elbow injury against Oklahoma. Zaborowski is second on the team in home runs, and he may be on the field, or at least in the batter’s box as the designated hitter, for the Alabama series.
The Bulldogs defeated Kennesaw St. 9-2 with solid hitting and another “pitch by committee” outing from the bullpen. Georgia used nine pitchers in the victory, striking out 16 batters. At the plate, the Bulldogs had ten hits, led by first baseman Tre Phelps with three. Third baseman Slate Alford added two hits and three runs batted in. Georgia’s home run leader, right fielder Robbie Burnett, hit the only long ball of the day, raising his total to 19.
Game one was a blast. Georgia topped Mizzou 9-2, scoring seven on the strength of four home runs. Georgia right-hander Brian Curley pitched seven solid innings, striking out six and keeping the Tigers off the board. He did hit three batters, but that could be called gamesmanship.
The second game featured a four-run sixth inning, where designated hitter Dan Jackson started the ball rolling with a two-RBI homer. Missouri’s pitching then collapsed, walking in a pair of runs to give Georgia a 5-2 lead that held to the end.
The series’ final game was too close for comfort, but the Dawgs scored two in the ninth inning for a 4-2 win, completing a sweep of the Tigers. Third baseman Slate Alford smashed a two-run dinger in the top of the ninth to put Georgia ahead, then right-hander Zach Harris struck out two as he came on in relief to shut down Missouri. Bulldogs’ right-hander Leighton Finley had another great start, striking out eight in seven-plus innings.
Georgia continues their winning season with a tough series against the Alabama Crimson Tide (37-12, 13-11 SEC). A series win for either school could mean a spot in the NCAA Tournament and a step closer to the College World Series.
The Bulldogs finish the regular season at home against the Texas A&M Aggies (27-20, 10-14 SEC) next week.
Last week, expectations were “four wins against inferior opponents“. Also, it was expected that the Bulldogs would stretch their lead in the “home runs by a team” category. Georgia won all four games, hitting seven home runs this week, pushing their nation-leading total to 119.
This week, expect Georgia to play in front of a hostile crowd in Alabama. This rivalry transcends sports, and home-field advantage matters big-time. The Bulldogs will need to play both small-ball and long-ball and get solid pitching to take this series. Zaborowski’s health will be a huge factor for both teams. Expect one win and be happy for two. The backs are not against the wall yet.
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