Vols Avoid Sweep With Win In 10 Innings

Sunday, April 29

Athens, Ga.ATHENS, Ga.

1 p.m.

University of Georgia

30-14, 12-9

Tennessee

25-21, 8-13

Tennessee

Georgia Bulldogs

April 29, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score UGABox G44Correct

ATHENS, Ga. --- Despite a five-run comeback and a furious ninth inning rally by the Bulldogs, Tennessee edged Georgia 6-5 in 10 innings Sunday to avoid a sweep at Foley Field.

The Volunteers (25-21, 8-13) wasted no time getting on the scoreboard benefiting from an unearned run in the first inning. First basemen Pete Derkay laced a double down the left field line scoring Justin Ammons, staking Volunteer starter Will Neely to an early lead.

Tennessee added on to their lead in the third inning when center fielder Brodie Leftridge smashed a bases clearing double off of Bulldog freshman starter Ryan Webb who went three innings allowing three earned runs on three hits. The Volunteer lead was extended to 5-0 in the fourth inning on a clean single by leadoff Jay Charleston against Georgia reliever Kevin Smith.

After scoring 20 runs combined in the first two games of the series, the Bulldog offense found their footing in the sixth inning. A double Michael Curry down the left field line scored Keegan McGovern and Cam Shepherd and then a two-out RBI single by Adam Sasser cut the Tennessee lead to 5-3.

Smith, Adam Goodman, Zac Kristofak, Tony Locey and Aaron Schunk all turned in solid performances on the mound limiting the Tennessee offense to just two runs in seven innings of relief.

Georgia made it a one run game in the eighth inning using a leadoff double by Keegan McGovern and an RBI groundout by Schunk bringing the game to 5-4. Down to their final out in the ninth inning the Bulldogs miraculously manufactured a run without a hit. Pinch hitter Mitchell Webb was hit by Tennessee reliever Garrett Crochet and then Georgia sent in Ivan Johnson as a pinch-runner. With Tucker Bradley at the plate, Johnson swiped second base and dashed all the way home on a throwing error by Tennessee catcher Benito Santiago who fired the throw into center field as the Vols did not cover second base.

The Volunteers quickly atoned for their mistake in the top of the tenth inning using a walk and a single by right fielder Justin Ammons to retake the lead. The Bulldogs loaded the bases but were unable to push across a tying run in the tenth inning off of Crochet, who pitched 4.1 innings in relief for the win. Schunk saw his record even at 1-1.

Dawg Tracks
-Keegan McGovern (2-for-5) extended his on base streak to 32 consecutive games.

-Tucker Bradley continued his hot hitting on the weekend going 6-for-12 in the three game set.

-Aaron Schunk (1-for-5) extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a tenth inning single.

Coach's Corner
Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin
On the teams fight to comeback from 5-0…

"I didn't think we played very well the first five innings. That's what we said as a group, we brought everyone together and said let's win these four innings and see what happens. I thought innings six through ten we played our tails off, but we came up short. But when it's 5-0 in the sixth and you force extra innings you got a lot of fight in you."

Player's Perspective
Sophomore third baseman/pitcher Aaron Schunk

On trying to close out an SEC series sweep…

"We just tried to be focused. We knew they were going to come out swinging trying to win this game because nobody is trying to get swept in the SEC. We didn't put in our best at-bats early on in the game but as soon as that fifth inning came around we really started stringing them together. There were a lot of balls that were hit hard that didn't fall but that's baseball."

Next Up
The Bulldogs (30-14, 12-9) will continue SEC play on the road in Columbia, Missouri against the Missouri Tigers. First pitch of game one is scheduled for Thursday at 7pm.