Bulldogs Drop Series Finale to Gators

Sunday, April 30

Athens, Ga.

1:00 PM

University of Georgia

17-28, 5-16

Florida

30-13, 13-8

Florida

Georgia

April 30, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score

April 30, 2017

Despite a late comeback Georgia fell to Florida Sunday.

Final Stats

ATHENS, GA. --- Despite five solid innings on the mound from Georgia starter Kevin Smith and a late eighth inning rally, it was the Florida Gators (30-13, 13-8) taking the final game of the three-game set 4-3 at Foley Field.

The Gators got on the board early with a second inning two-run home run from first baseman J.J. Schwarz and single tallies in the fourth and sixth. Starting pitcher Jackson Kowar made the early runs stand up after firing seven innings of shutout baseball before running into trouble in the eighth inning.

Georgia catcher Austin Biggar would start the Bulldogs three run rally with a hit-by-pitch followed by a Tucker Bradley single and a Cam Shepherd bases clearing double. A few batters and pitchers later, Mitchell Webb plated Shepherd for the third run in the inning. The Gator bullpen would wiggle out of trouble, stranding Webb and Keegan McGovern who also reached in the inning.

Georgia relief pitcher Zac Kristofak threw four scoreless innings allowing just three hits and keeping the Bulldogs within reach.

Gator closer Michael Byrne would stymie the final Bulldog attempt at a rally after a ninth inning single by Austin Biggar, completing a series win for the Gators.

Georgia (17-28, 5-16) will be back in action this weekend in Lexington, Kentucky where the Bulldogs will meet the No. 5 Kentucky Wildcats for a three game series.

Dawg Tracks:

*Mitchell Webb's second inning single extends his hitting streak to a personal season long of five games. Webb notched his fourth multi-hit game of the season.
*Austin Biggar caught his fifth runner stealing of the season, nabbing Deacon Liput at second base in the third inning.
*Tucker Bradley also extended his hitting streak to five with an eighth inning single making him 11-for-19 this week.
*LJ Talley extended his hit streak to five games, a career high.

Coach's Corner: Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin "When you are playing top competition, there is a small margin for error. Every bat is big, every pitch and every at-bat. They were one run better than us today. I thought we played well all weekend but not good enough. When you are playing a top-10 team, you have to play great baseball and we played good baseball. We have seen some improvement in this team but this league is very unforgiving. Florida is a great team that has great starting pitching and they made every play in the field.

On Florida shortstop Dalton Guthrie's defense...

"I think he [Dalton Guthrie] won the game for them today. That was the difference in the one-run game. He made three difference-making plays to win the game. He is a veteran and he is a really good player. He played on Team USA last summer and I think you look at our shortstop [Cam Shepherd] and you can see it in his future. He is going to be that leader and be the guy that takes this team to the next level."

On freshmen improving...

"It is encouraging to see these guys grow up. Austin [Biggar] had his best game today. Tucker Bradley playing the way he is playing. They are getting better and better and working hard. There is no quit in them and I'm proud of them."