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Olivia Sayer
Georgia sophomore Kolby Branch (9) covers second base during a NCAA college baseball game between Alabama and Georgia at Foley Field in Athens, Georgia, on Sunday, March 24, 2024. Georgia won 10-5. (Photo/Mady Mertens: @MadyMertensPhotography)
Georgia baseball’s potent offense was silenced Friday evening in a 6-1 loss to Mississippi State at Dudy Noble Field. The group, which leads the nation in home runs and slugging, was held to just one run on five hits.
The game was much closer than the final score indicated, however, as Georgia only trailed by one heading into the bottom of the eighth. The small deficit could be attributed to Georgia’s pitching staff.
Aside from one pitch that resulted in a three-run homer, Georgia’s bullpen was in control throughout the game. Coming into the matchup, SEC opponents were hitting .344 off of the Bulldogs’ arms. Through seven innings, the group limited Mississippi State to three hits.
The feat was especially impressive, considering usual Friday night starter Charlie Goldstein was scratched due to shoulder fatigue. Jarvis Evans started in his place and allowed two runs on three hits through over four innings.
At one point, the Bulldogs’ arms had sat down 15 straight Mississippi State batters. Evans, Josh Roberge and Zach Harris combined for the effort, enabling Georgia to have a well-rested pen for the remainder of the three-game series.
“They really saved our bullpen tonight,” head coach Wes Johnson said. “Those two guys did a really good job. It’s Friday night in this league, and you know you’re going to be in a fight. The games are going to be tight whether you’re at home or on the road. We threw the ball really well for seven and two-third innings in a 2-1 game, and the wheels came off after that.”
The wheels came off for Georgia in the bottom of the eighth when Mississippi State scored four to bring its lead to five. With two outs, David Mershon laid down a perfect bunt to get a man aboard for the home Bulldogs. On the next pitch, Harris hit Dakota Jordan to put a runner in scoring position. Hunter Hines followed up with a single to tack on another run, and Connor Hujsak capped it off with a towering blast to deep left field.
Prior to the RBI single, Harris was one strike away from getting out of the inning.
After getting off to a record-setting start, Georgia’s bats have quieted down in conference play. In their past 18 SEC innings, the Bulldogs have only scored one run. The trend is not ideal for a team with its sights set on Omaha, but Johnson has faith Georgia will get its swing back.
“You’re not going to win many games doing that,” Johnson said. “Our offense will get back on track. We’ll get back out there. It’s just a little hiccup for the offense, and we’ll be fine.”
Georgia’s biggest opportunity came in the top of the fifth, when back-to-back singles put runners at the corners with one down for the Bulldogs. After a passed ball allowed freshly-turned 23-year-old Sebastian Murillo to take second, Mississippi State opted to intentionally walk Charlie Condon to juice the bases for former Starkville resident Slate Alford.
Although Alford struck out to end the inning, another passed ball allowed Fernando Gonzalez to come home and trim Georgia’s deficit to one. However, Gonzalez ended up as the only Bulldog to cross home plate during the game.
Georgia had another two-out rally in the seventh when consecutive walks from Murillo and Corey Collins brought Condon to the plate. With first base occupied, Mississippi State opted to pitch to the nation’s leader in home runs and batting average. This approach worked, as Condon tapped the first pitch he saw back to the pitcher for the out.
Disregarding the loss, there were reasons for optimism. Georgia’s pitching staff looked much improved, despite being without its ace. On the offensive side, the Bulldogs got on base. The issue was bringing them home, as Georgia finished having stranded seven runners.
Georgia will look to get the bats going Saturday in primetime for game two of the series. The first pitch is set for 8:02 p.m., with Georgia projected to have Leighton Finley on the mound.