The No. 20-ranked Georgia baseball team knocked off Georgia Southern 5-1 Wednesday night at J.I. Clements Stadium in Statesboro.

The Bulldogs (10-3) separated themselves with a four-run third inning and kept the Eagles (7-6) off the board for the final eight frames behind stellar relief pitching. Georgia Southern scratched together 4 hits and 6 walks for just 1 earned run and struck out 11 times.

“Our bullpen did a tremendous job tonight and it started with Chandler Marsh coming in with the bases loaded and getting two outs on three pitches so that was a nice job,” UGA coach Scott Stricklin said. “We left some runs out there, and this is a tough place to play, but we were happy to get the win.”

The 23-year-old Tate brothers led the way for Georgia at the plate. Cole Tate bounced back from an 0-of-4 hitting performance in last night’s 13-5 loss to hit 4 of 5 with 2 doubles and a run. Connor Tate finished 2-of-3 hitting with a double, a run, and 2 RBI.

Coleman Willis started on the mound for Georgia. The freshman exited in the middle of a bumpy second inning, finishing with 1.1 innings pitched. Willis surrendered 1 hit, 3 walks, and 1 earned run.

UGA faced six different pitchers in the win.

The Bulldogs and Eagles both scored a run in the first inning. Connor Tate singled to left field and Ben Anderson scored from third with ease to give Georgia a 1-0 lead. Anderson’s first inning walk extended his on-base streak to 11 games.

Georgia Southern scored on a passed ball to tie the game.

The Eagles threatened to score in the bottom of the second after loading the bases with one out, ending Willis’ day. Chandler Marsh induced two flyouts in three pitches, keeping Georgia Southern tied at 1-1.

UGA took control of the contest with a four-run third inning. Corey Collins put the Bulldogs back ahead with an RBI single up the middle that plated Cole Tate. Collins, who advanced to second on a wild pitch, scored on the following at-bat with a Connor Tate double.

Connor Tate advanced to third on a single and scored on a balk moments later. Cole Wagner scored Georgia’s final run from third base thanks to a Chaney Rogers single. The Bulldogs led 5-1.

Jaden Woods relieved Marsh after 2.1 scoreless innings. Marsh allowed a hit, a walk, and had 2 strikeouts.

The flame-hurling Woods threw 3.1 scoreless frames of his own. The sophomore only allowed 2 hits, 1 walk, and struck out four before Colin Caldwell took over at the start of the eighth inning.

Georgia loaded the bases in the fourth and fifth innings with less than two outs, but was unable to extend its lead. UGA stranded seven runners in scoring position through the final six innings.

Caldwell struck out the side in the eighth inning before handing pitching duties to Jack Gowen in the ninth. The senior righthander slammed the door on the Eagles four at-bats later.

Gowen has allowed 1 hit and no runs in his first five appearances.

Georgia plays host to Lipscomb to open a three-game series at 5 p.m. on Friday at Foley Field.