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Olivia Sayer
Players warm up at Foley Field on April 23 before the Georgia baseball game. The Bulldogs defeated Clemson 4-3 in 15 innings. (Photo/Olivia Sayer)
Five years after its infamous 20-inning win over the Tigers, Georgia baseball outlasted No. 4 Clemson 4-3 in 15 innings Tuesday evening at Foley Field. The Bulldogs’ pitching staff played a pivotal role in Georgia’s 30th win of the season.
With runners on first and second, Chandler Marsh looked to his catcher. Two minutes before midnight, he delivered his pitch to the top of the strike zone. The curveball froze Clemson’s Blake Wright and sent him back to the dugout with the game knotted at three. The strikeout also marked the end of the 14th inning and gave the Bulldogs a chance to walk it off in front of a season-high crowd.
“A lot of guys stepped up tonight,” Marsh said. “Coach Wes [Johnson] has been saying [the pitching staff] is kind of flipping that switch a little bit.”
Georgia’s pitching staff has been the recipient of much criticism this season. Coming into the matchup, the Bulldogs had a team ERA over five, and that number increased to 6.85 in conference play.
Against the Tigers, however, the group held strong when it mattered most.
Making his first career start for the Bulldogs, Zach Harris opened the evening with 2.2 innings of two-run ball. His performance was stronger than the final line indicated, however, as the two runs scored after Harris exited the game. Harris attacked the strike zone, as 26 of his 38 pitches went for strikes.
“That feels like two days ago,” Johnson said, laughing. “But Zach Harris for two innings was really, really good.”
Johnson said he pulled Harris because he was nearing a predetermined pitch count.
After Clemson’s Cam Cannarella led the fourth inning off with a home run, the Bulldogs kept the Tigers off the board for the remaining 11 innings. Georgia’s staff combined for 21 strikeouts and six walks in the 5.5 hour contest.
“The focus they had today was just amazing,” Paul Toetz, who scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch, said. “It says a lot about them that they’re not giving up. They’re working really hard, and it’s been good.”
Georgia’s pitching staff was helped out by its defense, another aspect of the Bulldogs’ game that has garnered negative attention this season.
With the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, second baseman Slate Alford made a diving grab to rob Wright of a base hit. He then pitched the ball to shortstop Kolby Branch, who was standing on second, for a double play to keep Georgia’s deficit at one-run.
In the top of the 13th, Alford made another diving stop to keep a ball off the bat of Jack Crighton in the infield. He then fired it to Corey Collins at first base for the inning-ending out. The two plays prevented at least two runs from scoring.
“[Alford] probably won that game with his glove,” Johnson said.
As Georgia and Clemson battled through all fifteen innings, Georgia emptied its bullpen. 10 different Bulldogs combined for the three-run effort, including typical Friday starter Charlie Goldstein. Goldstein is returning from shoulder fatigue and allowed no hits or walks in two innings.
His effort combined with the likes of Jarvis Evans, Kolten Smith and others showcased a pitching staff that has looked much improved over its past slew of games.
“We continue to study,” Johnson said. “The hay’s never in the barn— it’s an old school saying I’ve always used. We have to keep being better. You have to prepare and plan and know that there’s always a next level.”
The Bulldogs will look to continue improving as they head into their matchup with No. 1 Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park. After beating Clemson, Georgia is confident knowing that a good performance could improve its chances at hosting a regional.
“I told them after the game, ‘know that you can play with anybody in the country,”’ Johnson said.