Any loss is frustrating for Georgia skipper Scott Stricklin.
But when you drop as many one-run contests as the Bulldogs have nine games into the year, that makes it even worse.
For those counting, Friday’s 2-1 loss in 10 innings to UAB was the fourth one-run loss for Georgia (3-6) in six defeats this year, including the last three games in a row.
“We’ve to keep battling and get ready to fight. It’s a good group, they’re good kids but we’ve got to get over the hump,” Stricklin said. “Bottom line when you lose one-run games, you’re not doing enough right and we’re not doing enough correct right now.”
That includes a lineup that quite simply is not getting the job done.
After scoring seven runs in a shutout win over Georgia Southern, the Bulldogs have managed just six runs in their past three games – all losses.
Friday’s defeat saw the Bulldogs manage just four hits off three Blazer pitchers.
“It’s always a tough one when you lose like that,” freshman Tucker Bradley said. “It was an up and down game, we both had our chances. It’s just a really tough loss.”
Don’t blame Georgia starter Kevin Smith.
The sophomore lefty was solid, allowing just one run on four hits in 6.1 innings with six strikeouts and zero walks before coming out with one out in the seventh.
But UAB starting pitcher Garrett Whitlock was better. In fact, Whitlock was cruising along with a one hitter until Bradley led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to left.
Following a sacrifice by Tucker Maxwell, freshman Cam Shepherd tied the game on a sharp single to right, scoring Bradley. Shephard moved to second on the throw home, but stayed right there after a pop up by Keegan McGovern and a fielder’s choice by pinch-hitter Mitchell Webb.
Whitlock had been spectacular up until that point.
In the right-hander’s first eight innings, the only blip on his evening was a two-out single by Bradley in the sixth. Otherwise, the Snellville native retired the Bulldogs in order in every inning until Bradley led off the ninth with his second hit.
The Bulldogs would regret not ending the game right there.
Leadoff batter Riley McCown appeared to put the Blazers (6-3) up by one in the 10th, but his drive off the top of the wall in center was ruled a double after replay instead of what would have been UAB’s first home run this year.
He wound up scoring anyway, flying home from second on a soft single to right by Stephen Dobbs off reliever Blake Cairnes, who relieved Blakely Brown (0-1), who gave up the leadoff hit to McCown.
“We lost in a tough fashion, we get a bloop single that falls,” Stricklin said. “I thought we really battled in the ninth, that was encouraging to see. We get a big hit from Tucker Bradley, we get a bunt down, Cam Shepherd gets a hit, we tie the game and we’re showing a lot of energy in the dugout. We had a chance to win it but couldn’t come up with a hit.”
That included the bottom of the 10th. After a leadoff single by Austin Biggar, LJ Talley struck out after failing to lay down a bunt before a strikeout by Aaron Schunk against Carson Jones (2-0), who ended the game by getting Bradley on a fly out to left.
Georgia has now managed just nine hits in its past two contests combined.
“We’ve got to do a better job offensively. The last two times out, our pitchers have really done a good job of battling and we haven’t been able to score enough runs,” Stricklin said. “We’re a better offensive team that we’ve shown, so it’s very frustrating not to score any runs.”
NOTES: Will Campbell missed his first game of the year after experiencing some pain in his back. He is listed as day to day. … Georgia and UAB continue their series Saturday at 1 p.m. Freshman Tony Locey (1-1, 7.88) will pitch for the Bulldogs.
