University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
18-6, 3-3
Kentucky
17-8, 2-4
Kentucky Defeats Bulldogs
March 27, 2022 | Baseball
With game time temperatures hovering in the 30s, the Wildcats (17-8, 2-4 SEC) jumped ahead 4-0 in the first after a two-out, grand slam by catcher Alonza Rubalcaba. UK loaded the bases on a hit and a pair of walks. Georgia redshirt sophomore Bryce Melear was making his first career start and just his fourth overall appearance. It was part of a staff afternoon following his three scoreless innings of relief this past Tuesday against Georgia State. In the first, Melear was lifted in favor of junior Nolan Crisp who pitched the next 2.1 innings and allowed a run on three hits with three strikeouts. Collin Caldwell pitched the fourth and surrendered a two-run home run to Chase Estep to extend the Wildcats lead to 7-0. After a scoreless frame by Will Pearson, Georgia looked to Davis Rokose, and the Wildcats pushed across six runs in the sixth to make it 13-0 before freshman Coleman Willis got the final out of the inning. He went on pitch 1.1 innings and allow five runs (three earned) on four hits. Freshman Chandler Marsh pitched a scoreless eighth inning with two strikeouts.
"We had a chance to win the series after Friday, and we didn't get it done," said Georgia's Ike Cousins head baseball coach Scott Stricklin. "I thought the elements beat us just as much as the other team. We have to be tougher and be able to overcome that."
Georgia (18-6, 3-3 SEC) avoided a shutout in the seventh when sophomore Parks Harber blasted his third home run of the season, a two-run shot off Kentucky reliever Wyatt Hudpohl. In the eighth, Georgia scored three runs on four hits off Austin Strickland to close the gap to 18-5. Bulldog graduate centerfielder Ben Anderson (2-for-2) extended his on base streak to a team-best 22 games and finished the series 6-for-12 plus two stolen bases. Sophomore catcher/designated hitter Corey Collins (0-for-3) saw his career-best 21-game on base streak end. Kentucky senior Tyler Bosma notched the win with six shutout innings to improve to 3-1 while Melear dropped to 1-1.
Georgia returns to action Tuesday at Foley Field against Georgia Southern. First pitch will be at 6:02 p.m., and it will be televised on SEC Network+ available on the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network. The teams split the first two meetings earlier this month. The Eagles won 13-5 at SRP Park in North Augusta, S.C, on March 8. The next day in Statesboro, Georgia beat the Eagles 5-1.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Tyler Bosma (3-1)
L: Melear, Bryce (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Allen II, Dwight 1
HR: Harber, Parks 1
RBI: McAllister, Joshua 1 ; Wagner, Cole 1 ; Acton, Cory 1 ; Harber, Parks 2
SF: Acton, Cory 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Allen II, Dwight 1 ; McAllister, Joshua 1 ; Tate, Connor 1 ; Harber, Parks 1 ; Floyd, Buddy 1
SB: Anderson, Ben 1
HBP: Anderson, Ben 1
Batting:
2B: Chase Estep 2 ; Jacob Plastiak 1 ; Jase Felker 1 ; Adam Fogel 1
3B: Ryan Ritter 1
HR: Chase Estep 1 ; Alonzo Rubalcaba 1
RBI: Hunter Jump 1 ; Chase Estep 3 ; Ryan Ritter 4 ; Jacob Plastiak 1 ; Alonzo Rubalcaba 4 ; Jase Felker 1 ; Adam Fogel 3
SH: John Thrasher 1
SF: Ryan Ritter 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hunter Jump 2 ; Emilien Pitre 1 ; Chase Estep 5 ; Jacob Plastiak 1 ; Kirk Liebert 1 ; Alonzo Rubalcaba 3 ; Jase Felker 2 ; Adam Fogel 2 ; John Thrasher 1
SB: Chase Estep 1
