Bulldogs Use Long-Ball in Win Over UNC Charlotte

Friday, February 23

Athens, GA.

5 p.m.

University of Georgia

Charlotte

Photo by: Nicole Adamson

February 23, 2018 | Baseball

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Highlights

Interviews

ATHENS, Ga. – Behind 14 hits and 5.1 strong innings from junior starting pitcher Kevin Smith, the Georgia Bulldogs (4-1) continued their offensive production against the visitors from UNC Charlotte in the opener of a three-game set, winning 12-2 at Foley Field on Friday night.

Left fielder Keegan McGovern jump-started the Bulldog offense in the bottom of the first inning with a long solo home run to right field, his third of the season. The offensive explosion continued in the second inning, with three consecutive singles with the bases loaded by Tucker Maxwell, Tucker Bradley and McGovern, giving the Bulldogs a five-run advantage.

Georgia extended the lead even further in the third inning, using two more homeruns. Right fielder Tucker Bradley smashed a line-drive three-run home run over the right field wall, and second basemen L.J. Talley uncorked on a two-run home run down the right field line. Georgia tallied 10 runs off of Charlotte starter Matt Brooks, who had allowed just two runs in his previous start.

In his second Friday night start of the season, the lefty Smith went 5.1 innings, allowing just one run on one walk, while striking out five hitters.

The Bulldogs and 49ers would trade runs in the fifth and seventh inning bringing the final tally to 12-2.

Dawg Tracks
-Sophomore right fielder Tucker Bradley's 3^rd inning homerun was the first of his career.
-Senior Keegan McGovern (2-for-4) drove in three runs and is now second on the team with 9 RBI.
-The Bulldogs have scored 26 runs in their past two games, and have now won three consecutive games.
-Junior L.J. Talley's third inning homerun was the fourth of his career.
-Left-handed freshman C.J. Smith recorded two scoreless innings of relief allowing just one hit.

Coaches Corner
Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin
On today's sound performance from LHP Kevin Smith…
"I thought he battled a little bit better tonight. He had a rough couple of innings there, with the fourth and the fifth, and he had to battle through them, which I thought was really important. That's why we left them out there, to see him fight through it, and he did. He gave us a quality start, and he got the win."

On the Friday night win before a double header…
"It's always big to win on Friday. Sweeping a double header is tough, so whatever we have to do tomorrow to find a way to win the series is what's important. We've got Emerson Hancock going number one, and Chase Adkins going number two, so we feel good about that. Our bullpen is fully rested, and our guys are playing with a lot of confidence right now."

Player's Perspective
Junior LHP Kevin Smith
On the team's dominant performance…
"We got up 10-0, but we tried to act like it was still 1-0. The key for me was slowing everything down, going pitch by pitch and just trusting the defense behind you. It's nice knowing that even if we're down a couple of runs like last weekend the offense is going to put together good at-bats and grind it out and get some run support for us."

Next Up
The Bulldogs and 49ers will play a doubleheader Saturday at Foley Field with the first game beginning at 1pm. First pitch of game two will be 45 minutes after the conclusion of game one.