The Georgia Bulldogs opened the 2013 SEC conference schedule with a three-game series against the Texas A&M Aggies at Blue Bell Park in College Station over the weekend. It was not the weekend the Diamond Dawgs were hoping for as the Aggies swept the series, sending Georgia into its third three-game losing skid of the season. Georgia has also lost five out of the team’s last six contests.
During Georgia’s three-game series against the Aggies, the Dawgs’ bats were almost nonexistent. Six runs were all that David Perno’s team could muster in 27 innings of baseball.
A ROUGH START
On Friday night, the Dawgs lost to the Aggies 4-1. Freshman pitcher Sean McLaughlin pitched a career-high seven innings in the loss. He finished with four strikeouts while surrendering four runs on two hits. Texas A&M senior pitcher Kyle Martin (2-2) picked up the win, going 6.1 innings with six strikeouts.
Despite another impressive outing by McLaughlin, the offense only scored once. The Dawgs’ lone run came in the sixth frame, an inning where the team had three two-out hits and one walk. However, the Dawgs’ ineptitude at the plate continued as freshman Zack Bowers struck out swinging with two runners on base, an occurrence that is becoming somewhat of a trend this season.
GAME TWO
In the second game of the three-game series, the Aggies narrowly defeated the Bulldogs 2-1 in walk-off fashion.
Georgia lefty Patrick Boling pitched a career-high 6.2 innings, allowing one run while sporting a nasty 10:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Texas A&M righty Daniel Mengden went eight innings while allowing six hits and no runs. The freshman fanned eight batters without allowing a single walk.
Neither starting pitcher was given much run support by their respectable offenses which resulted in no-decisions for both Boling and Mengden. In the bottom of the 10th frame, Krey Bratsen singled to center off of sophomore relief pitcher Jared Walsh, bringing home right fielder Jace Statum for the game-winning run. It was Bratsen’s first hit of the game after going hitless in his first four at bats.
TAMU closer Jason Jester recorded the win. Walsh dropped to 1-2 with the loss.
“We’re better than this offensively, and it’s disappointing we couldn’t support the tremendous job our pitchers did today starting with Patrick Boling,” said Perno. “He’s been really good his last few outings, and he’s gotten no support and no wins out of it. Jarrett Brown and Jared Walsh did a good job too. We start a freshman at designated hitter today who has got six at-bats, Jess Posey, and he’s the only guy that gets a big hit. We need to have a sense of urgency Sunday and our veterans need to realize that it’s up to them. Some of them have to start getting a big hit so we’ll see. Their guy today was good, but we had six 1-2-3 innings and no walks. We walk three and two of them scored.”
SUNDAY SWEEP
In the series finale on Sunday, the Dawgs managed another dreary hitting performance, and were subsequently thumped by the Aggies 11-4.
Pitching was Georgia’s strongpoint for the first two games of the series, but the pitching disappeared in Game 3. Texas A&M started the game off hot, lighting up sophomore pitcher Luke Crumley for four runs in the bottom of the first frame. Crumley (1-3) was ultimately pulled from the game after giving up five runs on seven hits through two innings. Georgia ended up using seven pitchers to get through the game, none exceeding two innings of work.
The sole bright spot of the game for the Diamond Dawgs was a two-out, two-run homer in the eighth inning by Georgia senior catcher Brett Deloach.
“I don’t feel as bad today as I did Saturday because I know who we are now and have figured out what’s best for this team,” said Perno. “We’re going to have to grind it out, and I know some good days are ahead of us. The guys need a day off, revisit our goals and try for a fresh start as we’re coming home for our next SEC series. Luke (Crumley) is in a bad place right now like some of our hitters, but we’ve seen him perform, and we’ll find a role for him because he can help us.”
Georgia returns home to Athens for a five-game home stand as the Dawgs will host Furman on Tuesday. The Dawgs will then welcome in the Alabama Crimson Tide for another SEC three-game series over the weekend. Clemson will visit Athens to conclude Georgia’s five-game home stand on Tuesday, Mar. 26.
EXTRA INNINGS
Sophomore second baseman Nelson Ward extended his hitting streak to 11 games Friday. His streak was snapped Saturday. Senior third baseman Curt Powell’s 13-game hitting streak also came to an end during the series. … The Bulldogs suffered their first night-game loss of the season Friday, falling to 4-1 in night games.
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