Friday, February 14
ATHENS, GA.
5 pm
University of Georgia
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Richmond
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Georgia Bulldogs
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Photo by: Tony Walsh
Tate And Webb Lead Bulldogs To 7-6 Walk-Off Over Spiders
February 14, 2020 | Baseball
ATHENS, Ga.-----Cole Tate's fourth hit of the night delivered a 7-6 walk-off victory as fourth-ranked Georgia rallied past Richmond in Friday's season opener at Foley Field.
By the fourth inning, the Spiders had built a 6-2 advantage, and Georgia chipped away with single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh frames before striking for a pair in the ninth. Junior left-hander Ryan Webb struck out 11 over five scoreless innings, both career highs, for the win in relief of ace Emerson Hancock. Richmond managed six runs on nine hits including a pair of home runs off Hancock after Georgia had an early 2-0 advantage..
The first run of the 2020 season crossed in the bottom of the first inning off the bat of Bulldog junior Tucker Bradley (2-3, 2 RBI). Redshirt sophomore Ben Anderson's single to right field and senior Cam Shepherd's walk set the stage for Bradley's RBI-single. In. the second inning, Tate (4-5, 3 RBI, 1 run) launched his first career home run to make it 2-0.
Richmond (0-1) answered in the top of the third, scoring three runs on three hits. The Spiders extended their lead in the fourth inning when Johnny Hipsman hit a two-run home run and Dominic Toso hit a solo home run to make it 6-2.
In the fifth inning, junior Garrett Blaylock recorded an RBI single, scoring Bradley from third to make it a 6-3 contest. Georgia picked up two more runs with Anderson scoring on a sacrifice bunt from Bradley in the sixth and Cole Tate singling in the seventh, scoring his twin brother, sophomore Connor Tate, to make it a one-run contest.
In the ninth, Jarrad DeLarso came on for Richmond. He got Blaylock to pop up around home plate but catcher Drew Blakely (4-for-5, 2 RBI) was unable to make the play. With new life, Blaylock crushed a pitch over the right field wall for his first home run and knot the score at 6-all. Later in the frame, senior Patrick Sullivan followed with a single to right field and sophomore Randon Jernigan came in to pinch-run and moved into scoring position on a groundout. With two outs, Tate came through as Jernigan raced home.
Dawg Tracks
- With identical twins Connor and Cole Tate both getting the start, they are the first set of brothers to start in the same game for Georgia since Dylan and Hunter Cole did it back in 2014.
- This is Georgia's first walk-off win since April 16, 2019 when Connor Tate singled against Clemson to end the longest game in Georgia's history, a 3-2 win in 20 innings.
- The eleven strikeouts and five innings pitched by junior left-handed pitcher Ryan Webb were career highs.
- With the nod at shortstop and left field, senior Cam Shepherd and junior Tucker Bradley notched their fourth consecutive opening day starts.
- Transfers Ben Anderson and Garret Blaylock both made their Bulldog debut and both notched their first hit in a Bulldog uniform.
Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin
On Cole Tate…
"I am proud of him. He has worked so hard defensively. He is a guy that last year whenever Aaron Schunk came in to pitch he was always out there at third base, so he has played in games, especially last year. But offensively, he has started swinging the bat better, and it is kind of ironic that he got the start because Randon Jernigan's finger is hurt so Cole got the nod and he took advantage of it. When you get opportunities you have to take advantage of it so we put him there in the nine hole. We knew defensively he is going to be really good, and I couldn't help but smile when his first hit this year was a home run. He had four hits and a walk-off. He is going to remember that for the rest of his life. "
On Emerson Hancock…
"I thought he was good early. They had some good at-bats, especially in the first inning, which drew his pitch count up. He cruised through the second and in the third it was just bad luck. There were three balls off the end of the bat that ended up being infield singles. That is what happens when you put the ball in play. They did a really good job of putting it in play. In the fourth he just left a couple of balls up. They had some guys that took some really good swings. You have to think as a hitter to be really excited to face a guy like Emerson who has 25 scouts in the stands and is projected to be a high first-round pick. They were ready for him and that is the challenge that is going to be there for Emerson and Saturday for Cole [Wilcox]. It is a challenge for those guys to have to face those hitters that are excited and ready to face them."
On Ryan Webb…
"That was the best outing he has had in a Bulldog uniform for sure. We really missed him last year. He didn't pitch a whole lot for us last year because he was injured, his elbow, it wasn't anything serious but he just couldn't get comfortable with it. So he didn't pitch a lot last year but we knew that he could be big for us. It was close between him being a starter and being a reliever but tonight shows why we decided to put him in the bullpen because that's electric stuff. It's good against lefties because of the breaking ball and it's good against righties because he has a big league change up. He's going to be a really high draft pick. It is outstanding to have him in the bullpen and to come out behind Emerson (Hancock), Cole (Wilcox) or C.J. Smith is a luxury for us."
Player's Perspective
Junior LHP Ryan Webb
On what worked…
"It kind of felt like everything was working. You know, today was one of the better days I've felt. Our pitching coach had a great plan. He told me to go out there and just give it my all, so that's what I did."
On being a closer…
"Coach (Sean) Kenny told me that I'm going to do whatever the team needs me to do. If it helps the team win, I'm going to do whatever it takes. Ultimately, we want to win SEC and go to Omaha. So, if they need me to close then I will close. If they need me to start then I'll start. And if they want me to middle relief then I'll middle relief. I'm really here to do whatever I need to do."
On Cole Tate…
"Cole Tate has played really well all spring. He plays well on the defensive side of the ball but he has been playing great the past few weeks and really carried that confidence over and into today."
Up Next
Georgia continues the series against Richmond at Foley Field on Saturday, February 15th at 2 pm (SECN+)
Follow the Dawgs
For all the latest on Georgia baseball, follow the team on Twitter (@baseballuga), Instagram (@baseballuga) and on Facebook (Georgia Bulldogs Baseball), and keep checking in to georgiadogs.com.
By the fourth inning, the Spiders had built a 6-2 advantage, and Georgia chipped away with single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh frames before striking for a pair in the ninth. Junior left-hander Ryan Webb struck out 11 over five scoreless innings, both career highs, for the win in relief of ace Emerson Hancock. Richmond managed six runs on nine hits including a pair of home runs off Hancock after Georgia had an early 2-0 advantage..
The first run of the 2020 season crossed in the bottom of the first inning off the bat of Bulldog junior Tucker Bradley (2-3, 2 RBI). Redshirt sophomore Ben Anderson's single to right field and senior Cam Shepherd's walk set the stage for Bradley's RBI-single. In. the second inning, Tate (4-5, 3 RBI, 1 run) launched his first career home run to make it 2-0.
Richmond (0-1) answered in the top of the third, scoring three runs on three hits. The Spiders extended their lead in the fourth inning when Johnny Hipsman hit a two-run home run and Dominic Toso hit a solo home run to make it 6-2.
In the fifth inning, junior Garrett Blaylock recorded an RBI single, scoring Bradley from third to make it a 6-3 contest. Georgia picked up two more runs with Anderson scoring on a sacrifice bunt from Bradley in the sixth and Cole Tate singling in the seventh, scoring his twin brother, sophomore Connor Tate, to make it a one-run contest.
In the ninth, Jarrad DeLarso came on for Richmond. He got Blaylock to pop up around home plate but catcher Drew Blakely (4-for-5, 2 RBI) was unable to make the play. With new life, Blaylock crushed a pitch over the right field wall for his first home run and knot the score at 6-all. Later in the frame, senior Patrick Sullivan followed with a single to right field and sophomore Randon Jernigan came in to pinch-run and moved into scoring position on a groundout. With two outs, Tate came through as Jernigan raced home.
Dawg Tracks
- With identical twins Connor and Cole Tate both getting the start, they are the first set of brothers to start in the same game for Georgia since Dylan and Hunter Cole did it back in 2014.
- This is Georgia's first walk-off win since April 16, 2019 when Connor Tate singled against Clemson to end the longest game in Georgia's history, a 3-2 win in 20 innings.
- The eleven strikeouts and five innings pitched by junior left-handed pitcher Ryan Webb were career highs.
- With the nod at shortstop and left field, senior Cam Shepherd and junior Tucker Bradley notched their fourth consecutive opening day starts.
- Transfers Ben Anderson and Garret Blaylock both made their Bulldog debut and both notched their first hit in a Bulldog uniform.
Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin
On Cole Tate…
"I am proud of him. He has worked so hard defensively. He is a guy that last year whenever Aaron Schunk came in to pitch he was always out there at third base, so he has played in games, especially last year. But offensively, he has started swinging the bat better, and it is kind of ironic that he got the start because Randon Jernigan's finger is hurt so Cole got the nod and he took advantage of it. When you get opportunities you have to take advantage of it so we put him there in the nine hole. We knew defensively he is going to be really good, and I couldn't help but smile when his first hit this year was a home run. He had four hits and a walk-off. He is going to remember that for the rest of his life. "
On Emerson Hancock…
"I thought he was good early. They had some good at-bats, especially in the first inning, which drew his pitch count up. He cruised through the second and in the third it was just bad luck. There were three balls off the end of the bat that ended up being infield singles. That is what happens when you put the ball in play. They did a really good job of putting it in play. In the fourth he just left a couple of balls up. They had some guys that took some really good swings. You have to think as a hitter to be really excited to face a guy like Emerson who has 25 scouts in the stands and is projected to be a high first-round pick. They were ready for him and that is the challenge that is going to be there for Emerson and Saturday for Cole [Wilcox]. It is a challenge for those guys to have to face those hitters that are excited and ready to face them."
On Ryan Webb…
"That was the best outing he has had in a Bulldog uniform for sure. We really missed him last year. He didn't pitch a whole lot for us last year because he was injured, his elbow, it wasn't anything serious but he just couldn't get comfortable with it. So he didn't pitch a lot last year but we knew that he could be big for us. It was close between him being a starter and being a reliever but tonight shows why we decided to put him in the bullpen because that's electric stuff. It's good against lefties because of the breaking ball and it's good against righties because he has a big league change up. He's going to be a really high draft pick. It is outstanding to have him in the bullpen and to come out behind Emerson (Hancock), Cole (Wilcox) or C.J. Smith is a luxury for us."
Player's Perspective
Junior LHP Ryan Webb
On what worked…
"It kind of felt like everything was working. You know, today was one of the better days I've felt. Our pitching coach had a great plan. He told me to go out there and just give it my all, so that's what I did."
On being a closer…
"Coach (Sean) Kenny told me that I'm going to do whatever the team needs me to do. If it helps the team win, I'm going to do whatever it takes. Ultimately, we want to win SEC and go to Omaha. So, if they need me to close then I will close. If they need me to start then I'll start. And if they want me to middle relief then I'll middle relief. I'm really here to do whatever I need to do."
On Cole Tate…
"Cole Tate has played really well all spring. He plays well on the defensive side of the ball but he has been playing great the past few weeks and really carried that confidence over and into today."
Up Next
Georgia continues the series against Richmond at Foley Field on Saturday, February 15th at 2 pm (SECN+)
Follow the Dawgs
For all the latest on Georgia baseball, follow the team on Twitter (@baseballuga), Instagram (@baseballuga) and on Facebook (Georgia Bulldogs Baseball), and keep checking in to georgiadogs.com.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Webb, Ryan (1-0)
L: Jarrad DeLarso (0-1)
Batting:
HR: Johnny Hipsman 1 ; Dominic Toso 1
RBI: Johnny Hipsman 2 ; Dominic Toso 1 ; Anthony Forte 1 ; Drew Blakely 2
SH: Jordan Schulefand 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Johnny Hipsman 2 ; Dominic Toso 2 ; Peyton Sanderson 1 ; Daniel Little 1
HBP: Daniel Little 1
Batting:
2B: Shepherd, Cam 1 ; Bradley, Tucker 1
HR: Blaylock, Garrett 1 ; Tate, Cole 1
RBI: Bradley, Tucker 2 ; Blaylock, Garrett 2 ; Tate, Cole 3
SH: Bradley, Tucker 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Anderson, Ben 2 ; Bradley, Tucker 1 ; Blaylock, Garrett 1 ; Tate, Connor 1 ; Jernigan, Randon 1 ; Tate, Cole 1
SB: Tate, Connor 1
HBP: Bradley, Tucker 1 ; Tate, Connor 1 ; Sullivan, Patrick 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
OF
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballOF/LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF/RHP
/ BaseballSS
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
1B
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
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