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By Olivia Sayer
Georgia senior Fernando Gonzalez (13) and sophomore Kolten Smith (16) meet on the mound during game four of the NCAA Athens Regional between UNCW and Georgia at Foley Field in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Georgia won 11-2. (Photo/Mady Mertens; MadyMertensPhotography)
An 11-run inning doomed Georgia baseball in its 17-run loss to NC State in game one of the Athens Super Regional. The Bulldogs now have their backs against the wall, as a single loss will eliminate them from the NCAA Tournament.
“This game, as I’ve talked all year about, is not about panicking,” head coach Wes Johnson said. “It’s the teams who can flow through adversity and just keep staying the course.”
Georgia entered the series riding high after sweeping its Regional in three games. With an ace on the mound and a crowd of 3,829 behind them, it was evident the Bulldogs were confident heading into the Super Regional.
Just two innings into the game, however, NC State stunned Georgia with an 11-run frame.
After Kolten Smith struck out two in a scoreless first inning, the Wolfpack used small ball to get to Georgia’s sophomore starter.
Smith surrendered consecutive singles on three pitches to begin the top of the second. NC State’s Luke Nixon then laid down a bunt to score the Wolfpack’s first run of the game. Matt Heavner followed with another bunt. Rather than go after the ball, Smith hesitated, allowing NC State to load the bases.
Noah Soles followed with a bases-clearing double, and eight consecutive hits put Georgia in a six-run hole. On the ninth batter of the inning, NC State’s cleanup hitter grounded what appeared to be a double play ball to Corey Collins at first base.
However, Collins threw the ball high to Kolby Branch, who was unable to get his foot on the bag. Branch tossed it back to Smith at first, but the runner beat out the throw. As a result, the bases were once again loaded with no outs.
The next batter hit a long fly ball to the right-field wall that fell out of the glove of Dylan Goldstein to score another run. The hit chased Smith from the game after only throwing 38 pitches.
Chandler Marsh entered and struck out the first batter he faced. However, a two-RBI double and a misplayed ball in left field by Clayton Chadwick capped off the 11-run inning.
“I’ve never given up 11 runs in an inning and not walk or hit a guy,” Johnson said. “That’s why I said you got to tip your cap to [NC State] in that inning.”
Including the error, 10 straight Wolfpack batters reached in the second inning while15 came to the plate.
Georgia’s offense remained quiet throughout the game, as the Woldpack held the Bulldogs to just one run on four hits. Part of the lack of offensive success can be attributed to Georgia’s approach in the batter’s box after the explosive inning.
“There were a couple guys I thought were trying to hit 10-run homers up there,” Johnson said.
After the second inning, NC State continued to tack on runs. The Wolpack finished with 20 hits on route to an 18-1 victory. However, only one run scored against Marsh, who’s four innings helped preserve a bullpen that will be all hands on deck for the rest of the series.
“We’ve been playing really well as a team together,” Marsh said. “We know the hitters are going to pick the pitchers up tomorrow, and the pitchers are going to pick the hitters up tomorrow for what we can. I’m excited to see it happen. I’m excited to see those guys fight for each other in the spot we’re in.”
Game two is set for Sunday at noon. A loss ends Georgia’s season, while a win sets up a ‘winner take all’ game three on Monday. Leighton Finley is projected to start for the Bulldogs, while sophomore Dominic Fritton is expected to take the mound for NC State. As per the NCAA’s rules, Georgia will play as the visiting team.