No. 10 Bulldogs Even Series With No. 14 Oklahoma

Friday, April 25

Athens, Ga.

1:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

34-11, 11-9

Oklahoma

30-12, 11-9

Oklahoma

Georgia Bulldogs

April 25, 2025 | Baseball

Box Score Game 45 (PDF)

ATHENS, Ga.-----Tenth-ranked Georgia evened its SEC series with No. 14 Oklahoma here Friday, winning 10-9 in front of a crowd of 3,106.

Fast Facts

With a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning, senior Slate Alford extended his on-base streak to 28 games, setting a new season-high for the Bulldogs.
Junior Kolten Smith started for Georgia, delivering 4.2 innings of two-run ball, striking out five while giving up two hits. Smith held Oklahoma hitless through four frames, retiring 11 straight batters after allowing a walk with one out in the first.
The Bulldogs jumped on Oklahoma starter Cade Crossland, scoring a run in the first and five in the second. The southpaw settled down, retiring six consecutive batters before surrendering a leadoff walk to Slate Alford in the fifth inning, who later scored on Tre Phelps' home run. Crossland was relieved after allowing seven runs on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 4.0 innings.
After not recording a home run since March 7th, Tre Phelps blasted his second home run in as many games on a three-run shot to left field for a 9-2 advantage.
Junior Zach Harris earned the win, improving to 3-0 after entering the top of the eighth inning with two outs, stranding the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. Harris returned for the ninth and slammed the door, recording the final out with the tying run on base.

Key Quotes

Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Wes Johnson

On the team taking past mistakes turning them into areas of growth…

"We came out today and let's be real, we did not play all that well at the end of the day, but we are starting to do some things better. Things that we were doing earlier in the year. So, we have got some things to improve on, but you never apologize for a win because in this league they are all hard. There are going to be some wins that are easy, and you play great, but these are the ones you will look back on and go, yeah, this one was gritty, and it was hard."

On Zach Harris entering the last two innings…

"Last year he started a super-regional game for us, so the limelight or the spotlight should not be too big for Zach. He has been really hungry lately and he has wanted to pitch more in some different roles and environments. When you get that combination of a guy who is hungry and you throw them into the fire and they perform, then you start to trust them."

Zach Harris Jr. RHP

On his mindset on the mound today…

"We had the lead the whole game and our hitters have been battling all season. They come out and fight each and every day.And as a pitching staff, trying to come out there and just fight for them, have their backs while they have ours at the plate. So, I think my mentality was just attack the guy. That's kind of been my thing, especially as I've grown. Just let the chips fall where they may and just do what I can do and control what I can control."

Slate Alford Sr. 3B

On getting hits early in the game and how it helped the team today…

"It has been a rough couple of weeks, but that is the game of baseball, and we have a lot of confidence in ourselves. Just taking your walks and not chasing is huge. Today was a new day and just fighting. Just doing what I can do."

Up Next:

The final game of the three-game series between Georgia (34-11, 11-9 SEC) and No. 14 Oklahoma (29-13, 11-9 SEC) is scheduled for Saturday at noon at Foley Field. It will be the annual Lettermen Day with a special recognition of the 1990 NCAA Champions with more than 20 members expected to attend.