{"id":2108,"date":"2024-05-31T00:03:46","date_gmt":"2024-05-31T00:03:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ctlsites.uga.edu\/rp-oliviasayer\/?p=2108"},"modified":"2024-06-01T03:47:22","modified_gmt":"2024-06-01T03:47:22","slug":"georgia-baseball-opens-athens-regional-with-dramatic-comeback-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ctlsites.uga.edu\/rp-oliviasayer\/georgia-baseball-opens-athens-regional-with-dramatic-comeback-win\/","title":{"rendered":"Georgia baseball opens Athens Regional with dramatic comeback win"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Link to Article on The Red & Black<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By Olivia Sayer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Georgia teammates celebrate the win during an NCAA college baseball game between Vanderbilt and Georgia at Foley Field in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Georgia won 14-4. (Photo\/Mady Mertens; MadyMertensPhotography)<\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An entire team effort lifted Georgia baseball over Army Friday afternoon in game one of the NCAA Athens Regional. In what was Foley Field\u2019s first time hosting a playoff game in five years, the Bulldogs and Black Nights gifted those in attendance with an exciting back-and-forth contest. Georgia\u2019s depth made the difference in its 8-7 victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think that the moral of the story today for us and for so many of the games that we\u2019ve had this year is just the offensive production one through nine,\u201d Charlie Condon said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Army leading by one, Georgia had a runner at first in the top of the sixth for Condon. The Black Knights opted to intentionally walk the SEC Player of the Year for the second time in the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An entire team effort lifted Georgia baseball over Army Friday afternoon in game one of the NCAA Athens Regional. In what was Foley Field\u2019s first time hosting a playoff game in five years, the Bulldogs and Black Nights gifted those in attendance with an exciting back-and-forth contest. Georgia\u2019s depth made the difference in its 8-7 victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think that the moral of the story today for us and for so many of the games that we\u2019ve had this year is just the offensive production one through nine,\u201d Charlie Condon said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Army leading by one, Georgia had a runner at first in the top of the sixth for Condon. The Black Knights opted to intentionally walk the SEC Player of the Year for the second time in the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finley, who made his first postseason start, had trouble locating the strike zone. Head coach Wes Johnson said he thought the sophomore right-hander was \u201ca little nervous today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s okay though,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cThat means you\u2019re in the right moment. So, now we\u2019ll talk to him about his heartbeat. We\u2019ll get him back under control.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the constant traffic on the basepaths, Finley only surrendered four runs in 3.2 innings. Johnson said Finley might pitch again this weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Georgia trailing by one in the bottom of the fifth, Clayton Chadwick laced a double down the left field line to score Dillon Carter and tie the game. Carter reached base in all five of his plate appearances with three walks and two hit by pitches. As a team, Army hit five Bulldog batters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Brian Zeldin threw the game\u2019s only 1-2-3 inning in the top of the seventh, the Black Knights made him work. With one out and runners at first and second, Thomas Schreck rolled an infield single down the third base line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After fielding it cleanly, Condon bluffed a throw to the bag. Once he saw the baserunner leaning, Condon decided to throw the ball. Quickly regretting the decision, he attempted to stop his motion. However, it was not before the ball went into the outfield to trim Georgia\u2019s lead to one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI’m lucky to have a pitching staff and group of offensive bats that can keep us back in the game,\u201d Condon said. \u201cAnd [the miscue] ended up, thanks to those guys, not mattering a whole lot. But, it\u2019s just how this group operates. Everybody\u2019s got each others\u2019 back, and I\u2019m lucky to have that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christian Mracna replaced Zeldin on the mound after a groundout to second base tied the game in the eighth. Despite getting tired at the end, it was a solid outing for Zeldin, who allowed three runs in four innings. With the bases loaded, Mracna struck out Army\u2019s cleanup hitter to preserve the tie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know how important it is to the team and how hard we work for those moments,\u201d Mracna said. \u201cSo, I really just tried to do my best. And we\u2019ve been preparing all year for moments like that, so I didn\u2019t feel rushed at all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the bottom of the eighth, a walk and two hit by pitches loaded the bases for Fernando Gonzalez. He flew out to left field to plate the go-ahead run. In the top of the ninth, Mracna worked around a walk and single to secure the win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been on the loss in game one [side] and had to come all the way back and win that Regional,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cIt\u2019s really really hard. It taxes your pitching staff and really starts to wear on your position players.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bulldogs will face the winner of UNC-Wilmington and Georgia Tech Saturday at 6 p.m. in the winner\u2019s bracket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Bulldogs take game one of the NCAA Athens Regional 8-7. The Bulldogs will face the winner of UNC-Wilmington and Georgia Tech Saturday at 6 p.m. pic.twitter.com\/NgUEP8Un9P<\/a><\/p>— Olivia Sayer (@OliviaKSayer) May 31, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>