Commodores Win Slugfest

Friday, May 6

Athens, Ga.

6:30 pm

University of Georgia

31-15, 12-10

Vanderbilt

30-14, 11-11

Vanderbilt

Georgia

May 06, 2022 | Baseball

Box Score Box G46

ATHENS, Ga. – The 16th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs fell to the 14th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores 11-9 Friday in front of 3,217 spectators at Foley Field.

"Leadoff walks hurt us tonight," said Georgia's Ike Cousins head baseball coach Scott Stricklin. "We have to keep Enrique Bradfield Jr. off the bases. That's the key… the first thing you have to do to beat these guys, and he got on base five times tonight… It's going to be 72 and sunny tomorrow. We need all the fans we can get out here tomorrow. We need the energy to even things up and get some momentum going into Sunday."

Georgia's (31-15, 12-10 SEC) nine runs came on 14 hits, led by a 4-for-5, two-RBI performance by Connor Tate, a 2-for-4 performance by Chaney Rogers, and a 2-for-5, two-RBI night by Fernando Gonzalez, while six Bulldogs notched one hit apiece. On the mound, Nolan Crisp (1-3) was tabbed with the loss. He went for innings giving up four runs on six hits with a career-high nine strikeouts. In relief, Michael Polk went two innings giving up four runs on five hits with two strikeouts, while Jaden Woods went 1.2 inning giving up one run on two hits with a strikeout. Will Pearson closed the game out for the Bulldogs.

Vanderbilt (30-14, 11-11 SEC) pitcher, Christian Little (1-1) earned the win as part of a staff night. He went four innings giving up three runs on five hits with four strikeouts. In relief, Nelson Berkwich lasted 1.2 innings giving up four runs on four hits with two strikeouts, while Nick Maldonaldo went 1.2 innings giving up two runs on five hits with two strikeouts. Thomas Schultz earned the save with 1.2 scoreless innings and one strikeout .

The Commodores struck first in the second inning on a solo home run by Javier Vaz, however the Bulldogs responded in the bottom of the frame with a run of their own. With the bases loaded, Josh McAllister drove in a run on an infield grounder to make it 1-1. The Commodores added three more runs including a two-run home run by Dominic Keegan. Georgia respond in the bottom of the inning, plating one run on an RBI double by Connor Tate to draw within two. UGA played another run in the fourth on a McAllister solo shot to left field to draw within one of the Commodores. Vanderbilt extended its lead back to two-runs in the fifth on a RBI double by Javier Vaz, however, Georgia plated a run in the bottom of the frame on a Chaney Rogers single to left field to make the score 5-4.

The Commodores exploded for three runs in the sixth, scoring one run on an infield grounder and two on a ground-rule double by Jack Bulger to gain an 8-4 lead. Again, the Bulldogs answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame with a pair of RBI doubles by Gonzalez and Cory Acton and an RBI single by Tate. Vanderbilt added two more runs in the seventh on a pair of RBI singles to take a 10-7 advantage. For the sixth inning in a row Georgia responded , scoring two runs. Pinch-hitter Cole Wagner scored a run on a RBI double to deep center field, while Fernando Gonzalez scored the second on a RBI single to cut the lead to one, 10-9. After holding Vanderbilt scoreless in the eighth, the Bulldogs loaded the bases with one out, but failed to score. In the ninth, the Commodores added another for the final.

Georgia will return to action on Saturday, May 7 for game two of the series. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m. (SECN+).

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