LAWRENCEVILLE – Georgia baseball could not cap its series win over Georgia Tech with a Sunday sweep, falling 4-1 in the final game of the Spring Baseball Classic.
The Bulldogs (8-3) could not get rolling offensively in an impromptu bullpen game at a sunny Coolray Field full of fans from both teams.
UGA coach Scott Stricklin said his team would have to be at its best after Saturday’s win, as Tech (10-2) was yet to throw its top three relief pitchers.
“I thought we had some really good at-bats off of Jackson Finley, their starter, and we just didn’t have any luck,” Stricklin said. “When they have a lead late, they’re really tough.”
The neutral site game ended a three-game weekend series after the first two games were played on the schools’ campuses. The Bulldogs took Game One in Athens 7-2 and clinched the series with a 16-6 win on Saturday in Atlanta.
Stricklin’s team created a few scoring chances but was far from perfect. The Yellow Jackets’ top arms were quick to stifle opportunities.
Georgia Tech stranded two of Georgia’s three runners in scoring position.
Stricklin did get an encouraging performance from his bullpen after pulling starting pitcher Nolan Crisp early. Crisp, who surrendered two earned runs in as many innings, let seven Bulldog relievers finish the afternoon.
Georgia’s bullpen combined to allow one earned run on a hit and seven walks with 13 strikeouts.
Freshman righthander Matthew Hoskins led the group with five strikeouts and no hits in 2.0 innings of work. Hoskins, who missed the season’s first two weeks with an illness, peppered the zone with 22 strikes in 31 total pitches.
“He wants to pitch every single day,” Stricklin said. “He’s a big, strong, tough kid.
“I’m really encouraged by him, and really encouraged by Zach DeVito.”
DeVito, a Tulane transfer, fanned three Yellow Jackets and gave up a hit and an earned run in 2.0 innings.
Connor Tate finished up an impressive series with one of UGA’s four hits. He finished the weekend 6-for-11 hitting with a pair of doubles, three walks and three RBI.
Freshman Charlie Condon plated Ben Anderson for the lone Georgia run of the day on a fielder’s choice.
The Bulldogs ended the series with 24 runs on 30 hits and six homers.
“Offensively, I think we’re really good,” Stricklin said. “Sometimes, good pitching shuts down good hitting and I think that’s what happened today.”
UGA is back in action against Georgia Southern at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at SRP Park in North Augusta, South Carolina. The two teams will face off again at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Georgia Southern.
The Eagles (7-4), who lost an 8-6 midweek battle to Georgia Tech on February 21, won their third series this weekend over UCF.
Georgia’s Probable Starting Pitchers - Georgia Southern
Game 1 Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. - LHP Charlie Goldstein (0-0, 6.43 ERA)
Game 2 Wednesday at 6 p.m. - RHP Kolten Smith (0-0, 2.70 ERA)
