Saturday, May 19
Athens, Ga.
12 p.m.
University of Georgia
37-17, 18-12
3
vs
2
Arkansas
37-17, 18-12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Arkansas
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
6
0
Georgia Bulldogs
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
X
3
8
0
McGovern Throw Seals Georgia 3-2 Win Over No. 6 Arkansas
May 19, 2018 | Baseball
ATHENS, Ga. — Senior Keegan McGovern capped off Senior Day with a heroic final out, sealing a crucial 3-2 win for the No. 13 Georgia Bulldogs (37-17, 18-12 SEC) over the No. 6 Arkansas Razorbacks (37-17, 18-12 SEC) at Foley Field on Saturday.
McGovern, the Bulldog left fielder playing his final regular season game at Georgia, caught a fly ball to left field and rifled a throw to sophomore catcher Austin Biggar at home plate for the final out.
"I don't think I've ever seen anything like that," Georgia head coach Scott Stricklin said. "I was shaking hands with the Arkansas coaches at home plate and I look out to left field and see our team celebrating. I don't think I've ever seen that before. I've never seen a game like that especially with so much at stake. Very fitting that Keegan McGovern made that play. He's meant a whole lot to this program."
Fresh off a win against No. 1 Florida last Sunday, junior starting pitcher Kevin Smith (8-1) fired off a career-high 11 strikeouts to earn the win in seven innings, while allowing two runs on four hits. With the victory, Smith touts the most wins of a Bulldog pitcher since Michael Palazzone recorded 10 in 2011.
The Bulldog bullpen preserved the 3-2 lead after Smith's day concluded. Sophomore reliever Tony Locey pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and freshman Ryan Webb earned his third save by taking care of the ninth.
The Razorbacks drew first blood with a pair of doubles in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. After stranding two batters in each of the first and second innings, the Bulldogs tied the game at 1-1 by way of a McGovern solo home run—his 15th on the season—in the third inning.
Arkansas' Grant Koch doubled to center field in the fourth inning to bring Luke Bonfield home for a 2-1 Razorback lead, but Georgia followed up with superb bunting in the fifth inning. Biggar laid down a perfect bunt to put runners at the corners, and freshman C.J. Smith dropped a sac bunt to score senior Mitchell Webb for a 2-2 score.
Junior Michael Curry led off the sixth inning and cracked the eventual winning home run, a solo shot of his own to left field for a 3-2 lead. The shot gave Curry his 10th home run of the year to join McGovern in double-digit home runs, the first time two Georgia batters achieved that feat in the same season since 2009.
Dawg Tracks
- Kevin Smith (8-1) excelled in seven innings of work as the starter, tossing a career-high 11 strikeouts while holding Arkansas to four hits and two runs. Smith becomes the first Georgia pitcher since 2011 to earn eight wins. The Razorbacks entered the series as the conference leader in hitting, batting .303 as a unit as well as 7.1 runs per game.
- In his Senior Day showing, Keegan McGovern (1-for-4) blasted his 15th home run of the year and 26th of his collegiate career with a third inning solo shot. McGovern is two home runs away from tying Doc Brooks and Brian Jester at No. 10 in a program history for a single season.
- Michael Curry (2-for-4) knocked out his 10th home run of the year and the 31st of his collegiate career on a sixth inning solo shot. Curry now stands one home run away from the No. 10 spot in career home runs at Georgia.
- Aaron Schunk (1-for-4) extended his hitting streak, the longest active streak in the SEC, to 22 games with a single in the first inning.
Coach's Corner
Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin
On the impact of seniors on the program:
"It was huge. Mitchell Webb got two hits today. Then, Blake Cairnes was big for us yesterday on the mound. Trey Logan has been great all year, and Chase Adkins gave us a good start Thursday, so it's senior weekend as I like to call it. It was fun all the way around. Those guys did their jobs. They're a great group, and we have the chance to keep on playing."
On preparing for the SEC Tournament:
"We're taking the day off tomorrow. I'm sure the guys will enjoy this win tonight and relax a little tomorrow. We will practice Monday morning and head out for Hoover on Tuesday. I'm excited to be going to Hoover and excited to be in the position we are. These kids have worked hard and they deserve it."
Player's Perspective
Senior LF Keegan McGovern
On his assist to complete a double play and end the game..
"No, I do not think I have ever seen it end like that. I was just happy I could come through for my team like that at the end. That was nice."
On going out strong his senior year and on Senior Day...
"Yes, that is one big thing I wanted to do this year: just get this program back right. We had not won as many games as we would like the past couple years. This season has been awesome, so I hope we can keep this thing rolling."
Next Up
With the win, the Bulldogs (37-17, 18-12 SEC) will be the No. 3 seed at the 2018 SEC Baseball Tournament, to be played May 22-27 at the Hoover (Ala.) Metropolitan Complex. Georgia secured a top four seed and a bye with its 8-7 win over Arkansas on Friday. On Wednesday, May 23 at 10:30 a.m. ET, the Bulldogs will face the winner of Vanderbilt and Texas A&M as those clubs meet in Tuesday's first round.
McGovern, the Bulldog left fielder playing his final regular season game at Georgia, caught a fly ball to left field and rifled a throw to sophomore catcher Austin Biggar at home plate for the final out.
"I don't think I've ever seen anything like that," Georgia head coach Scott Stricklin said. "I was shaking hands with the Arkansas coaches at home plate and I look out to left field and see our team celebrating. I don't think I've ever seen that before. I've never seen a game like that especially with so much at stake. Very fitting that Keegan McGovern made that play. He's meant a whole lot to this program."
Fresh off a win against No. 1 Florida last Sunday, junior starting pitcher Kevin Smith (8-1) fired off a career-high 11 strikeouts to earn the win in seven innings, while allowing two runs on four hits. With the victory, Smith touts the most wins of a Bulldog pitcher since Michael Palazzone recorded 10 in 2011.
The Bulldog bullpen preserved the 3-2 lead after Smith's day concluded. Sophomore reliever Tony Locey pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and freshman Ryan Webb earned his third save by taking care of the ninth.
The Razorbacks drew first blood with a pair of doubles in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. After stranding two batters in each of the first and second innings, the Bulldogs tied the game at 1-1 by way of a McGovern solo home run—his 15th on the season—in the third inning.
Arkansas' Grant Koch doubled to center field in the fourth inning to bring Luke Bonfield home for a 2-1 Razorback lead, but Georgia followed up with superb bunting in the fifth inning. Biggar laid down a perfect bunt to put runners at the corners, and freshman C.J. Smith dropped a sac bunt to score senior Mitchell Webb for a 2-2 score.
Junior Michael Curry led off the sixth inning and cracked the eventual winning home run, a solo shot of his own to left field for a 3-2 lead. The shot gave Curry his 10th home run of the year to join McGovern in double-digit home runs, the first time two Georgia batters achieved that feat in the same season since 2009.
Dawg Tracks
- Kevin Smith (8-1) excelled in seven innings of work as the starter, tossing a career-high 11 strikeouts while holding Arkansas to four hits and two runs. Smith becomes the first Georgia pitcher since 2011 to earn eight wins. The Razorbacks entered the series as the conference leader in hitting, batting .303 as a unit as well as 7.1 runs per game.
- In his Senior Day showing, Keegan McGovern (1-for-4) blasted his 15th home run of the year and 26th of his collegiate career with a third inning solo shot. McGovern is two home runs away from tying Doc Brooks and Brian Jester at No. 10 in a program history for a single season.
- Michael Curry (2-for-4) knocked out his 10th home run of the year and the 31st of his collegiate career on a sixth inning solo shot. Curry now stands one home run away from the No. 10 spot in career home runs at Georgia.
- Aaron Schunk (1-for-4) extended his hitting streak, the longest active streak in the SEC, to 22 games with a single in the first inning.
Coach's Corner
Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin
On the impact of seniors on the program:
"It was huge. Mitchell Webb got two hits today. Then, Blake Cairnes was big for us yesterday on the mound. Trey Logan has been great all year, and Chase Adkins gave us a good start Thursday, so it's senior weekend as I like to call it. It was fun all the way around. Those guys did their jobs. They're a great group, and we have the chance to keep on playing."
On preparing for the SEC Tournament:
"We're taking the day off tomorrow. I'm sure the guys will enjoy this win tonight and relax a little tomorrow. We will practice Monday morning and head out for Hoover on Tuesday. I'm excited to be going to Hoover and excited to be in the position we are. These kids have worked hard and they deserve it."
Player's Perspective
Senior LF Keegan McGovern
On his assist to complete a double play and end the game..
"No, I do not think I have ever seen it end like that. I was just happy I could come through for my team like that at the end. That was nice."
On going out strong his senior year and on Senior Day...
"Yes, that is one big thing I wanted to do this year: just get this program back right. We had not won as many games as we would like the past couple years. This season has been awesome, so I hope we can keep this thing rolling."
Next Up
With the win, the Bulldogs (37-17, 18-12 SEC) will be the No. 3 seed at the 2018 SEC Baseball Tournament, to be played May 22-27 at the Hoover (Ala.) Metropolitan Complex. Georgia secured a top four seed and a bye with its 8-7 win over Arkansas on Friday. On Wednesday, May 23 at 10:30 a.m. ET, the Bulldogs will face the winner of Vanderbilt and Texas A&M as those clubs meet in Tuesday's first round.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Kevin (8-1)
L: Evan Lee (4-3)
S: Webb, Ryan (3)
Batting:
2B: Heston Kjerstad 1 ; Carson Shaddy 1 ; Grant Koch 1
RBI: Grant Koch 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Luke Bonfield 1 ; Carson Shaddy 1
Batting:
2B: Webb, Mitchell 1
HR: McGovern, Keegan 1 ; Curry, Michael 1
RBI: Smith, C.J. 1 ; McGovern, Keegan 1 ; Curry, Michael 1
SH: Smith, C.J. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McGovern, Keegan 1 ; Curry, Michael 1 ; Webb, Mitchell 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
cf/rf
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
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LHP
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