University of Georgia Athletics
Bulldogs Blank Youngstown State, 14-0
February 21, 2009 | Baseball
Through two games, Georgia (2-0) has scored 29 runs, the most in its first two games since 1980 when the Bulldogs scored 35 against Albany State.
“Our guys played very well today, and we had great pitching,” said Georgia head coach David Perno. “We hit the ball well and had some great at-bats.”
Freshmen Johnathan Taylor and Chase Davidson led the Bulldogs with three hits apiece. Taylor is now 5-for-7 with four RBI through two games.
“Johnathan is really pushing for conference player of the week and really national player of the week,” Perno said. “The things he has done the last couple of days are unreal, especially as a freshman. He’s playing great out there.”
For McRee (1-0), it was the longest outing of his career after spending the previous two years as a member of the Georgia bullpen. He allowed just four hits while striking out six.
Georgia got on the board in the first inning when Rich Poythress blasted a three-run home run to right center, and Davidson hit the first home run of his career to straight-away center in the second to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead.
Georgia added three runs in the third highlighted by a two-run double by Joey Lewis. After a single run in the fourth, the Bulldogs tallied six more runs in the seventh, including one on another double by Lewis and two on a triple by Taylor.
Will Harvil and Michael Palazzone pitched the final 3.1 innings, surrendering just one hit.
Matt Tucker (0-1) took the loss for Youngstown State, giving up eight earned runs on seven hits in 4.0 innings. Offensively, the Penguins (0-2) were limited to just five hits.
The win clinched Georgia’s first season-opening series win since 2006. The Bulldogs will go for the sweep Sunday at 2 p.m.
