University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
Alabama
Georgia Defeats Alabama 6-3
March 09, 2011 | Baseball
March 9, 2011
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. --- Zach Cone went 2-for-4 with three RBI to lead Georgia to a 6-3 win over Alabama Wednesday at Coolray Field.
Georgia (5-8) exploded for four runs on five hits in the first. Before Wednesday, the Bulldogs had scored one run in the first inning all season. Cone keyed the outburst with a two-run single with shortstop Kyle Farmer driving in one and designated hitter Brett DeLoach collecting an RBI-double. In the second, Georgia added an unearned run as the Crimson Tide committed a pair of errors. The second miscue came with two outs and allowed Verdin to score from second.
In the fourth, Georgia made it 6-0 with a string of two-out base hits including an RBI-squeeze bunt from Cone. Alabama (8-5) made some noise in the top of the fifth after Bulldog left-hander Chase Hawkins had limited them to one hit to that point. However, Alabama delivered four straight one-out singles to score three runs and cut the deficit in half. Georgia turned to senior Eric Swegman who promptly put an end to the rally with a pair of strikeouts.
Alabama went to its bullpen in the bottom of the fifth as Charley Sullivan came on for Wolfe who allowed six runs on eight hits with no walks and two strikeouts. Hawkins gave the Bullldogs 4.1 innings and gave up three runs on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Leading 6-3 and with two on and nobody out in the top of the seventh, Georgia looked to sophomore Blake Dieterich in relief of Swegman. He got designated hitter David Kindred to hit one back to the mound, and the Bulldogs turned a double play. Then, he got Smith to flyout to center to end the threat. Sullivan pitched four shutout innings for the Crimson Tide.
Dieterich picked up his first career save, pitching the final three frames, allowing two hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Swegman got his first win of the year while Wolfe saw his record drop to 1-1. The Bulldogs banged out 11 hits including a career-high 4-for-5 performance from third baseman Curt Powell.
"We did a great job tonight, and we had tremendous approaches at the plate the last two nights," said Georgia coach David Perno. "We are getting closer to putting together a good streak. The key tonight was Eric (Swegman) bailed us out of a jam and Blake (Dieterich) came in and got the double play and went on to close out. He is really pitching well.
"Curt (Powell) is a special player, and he's starting to get comfortable at the plate, and I'm proud of him tonight," Perno added.
The Bulldogs now head to California for their next three games as they take part in the Dodgertown Classic. They will face #10 UCLA on Friday, Southern California on Saturday and Saint Mary's on Sunday. First pitch Friday against the Bruins is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.
