Georgia broke a 3-3 tie with an eight-run outburst in the seventh inning of its Foley Field opener Wednesday against Presbyterian to cruise to an 11-3 victory.
The Bulldogs (3-2) collected five doubles in the big inning to pace a 15-hit attack over the Blue Hose (1-3).
Georgia sophomore left fielder Johnathan Taylor notched three hits while freshman shortstop Kyle Farmer had two of the team’s seven doubles on the night. Georgia used eight pitchers on the night with senior reliever Steve Esmonde picking up the win.
Presbyterian reliver Steve Richardson allowed four runs on four hits in relief of Jesse Harmon for the loss to fall to 0-2.
Harmon provided a strong start, going five innings and scattering six hits, three runs, only one earned with no walks and seven strikeouts. Junior Eric Swegman made his Bulldog debut with two scoreless innings before giving way to a parade of relievers.
Georgia head coach David Perno said he was pleased with how the team responded in the home opener.
“We got off to a great start and had a good finish, but we have to work on making innings toughter for the opposing pitchers,” said Perno. “We just need to keep executing, playing small ball and moving runners, and if we do that, offensively, we shouldn’t have
any problem scoring runs and staying in games.”
Along with Farmer, Georgia got a pair of hits from freshmen Zach Taylor and Todd Hankins in the starting lineup and freshman Robert Shipman went 1-for-2 in his Bulldog debut as the starting first baseman. Georgia sophomore first baseman Chase Davidson missed his fifth straight game due to an elbow injury, and Perno said he may see action as a designated hitter this weekend.
“I think we’re going to have a very good staff, and our freshmen hitters are really starting to swing the bats well,” said Perno. “I’m very pleased with where we’re going especially with our catchers. People saw that as a question mark coming into the year, and it turns out that we have three very good ones and each of them showed that tonight.”
Georgia returns to action Friday for the first of a three-game set with Stetson. First pitch at Foley Field will be at 5 p.m
The Bulldogs (3-2) collected five doubles in the big inning to pace a 15-hit attack over the Blue Hose (1-3).
Georgia sophomore left fielder Johnathan Taylor notched three hits while freshman shortstop Kyle Farmer had two of the team’s seven doubles on the night. Georgia used eight pitchers on the night with senior reliever Steve Esmonde picking up the win.
Presbyterian reliver Steve Richardson allowed four runs on four hits in relief of Jesse Harmon for the loss to fall to 0-2.
Harmon provided a strong start, going five innings and scattering six hits, three runs, only one earned with no walks and seven strikeouts. Junior Eric Swegman made his Bulldog debut with two scoreless innings before giving way to a parade of relievers.
Georgia head coach David Perno said he was pleased with how the team responded in the home opener.
“We got off to a great start and had a good finish, but we have to work on making innings toughter for the opposing pitchers,” said Perno. “We just need to keep executing, playing small ball and moving runners, and if we do that, offensively, we shouldn’t have
any problem scoring runs and staying in games.”
Along with Farmer, Georgia got a pair of hits from freshmen Zach Taylor and Todd Hankins in the starting lineup and freshman Robert Shipman went 1-for-2 in his Bulldog debut as the starting first baseman. Georgia sophomore first baseman Chase Davidson missed his fifth straight game due to an elbow injury, and Perno said he may see action as a designated hitter this weekend.
“I think we’re going to have a very good staff, and our freshmen hitters are really starting to swing the bats well,” said Perno. “I’m very pleased with where we’re going especially with our catchers. People saw that as a question mark coming into the year, and it turns out that we have three very good ones and each of them showed that tonight.”
Georgia returns to action Friday for the first of a three-game set with Stetson. First pitch at Foley Field will be at 5 p.m