Georgia Southern edged second-ranked Georgia 1-0 Tuesday in front of a crowd of 4,950 at SRP Park.
The Bulldogs (14-3) stranded 11 base runners and struck out a season-high 13 times as five Eagle hurlers combined to limit Georgia to five hits. Georgia Southern improved to 10-5.
Both teams missed early scoring opportunities. In the third, the Eagles got a leadoff double from No. 9 hitter Blake Evans. Georgia junior C.J. Smith came back with a couple of strikeouts and got Mitchell Golden to line out softly to second to keep it a scoreless contest. In the fourth, Georgia put runners at the corners with nobody out, and reliever Jacob Parker came on for Jay Thompson and struck out the next three Bulldogs.
The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the fifth. Parker Biederer led off with his first triple and scored on a squeeze bunt by Matt Anderson. Georgia tried to answer in the fifth, putting two on with two outs, but Parker notched his sixth strikeout to complete his second inning of work and maintain a 1-0 edge. In the seventh, Georgia loaded the bases with two outs and Nick Jones struck out Cole Tate to keep it a 1-0 game.
Parker (1-0) picked up the win while Hayden Harris pitched the final two innings for his first save. Smith was the hard luck losing pitcher, allowing a single run on three hits with three strikeouts over six innings. Ryan Webb and Jack Gowen tossed three scoreless innings for the Bulldogs.
This and that
...With a walk in the fifth inning, Tucker Bradley has reached base safely in all 17 games this year while Ben Anderson’s on-base streak is 16 games after a leadoff walk in the first.
...C.J. Smith made his first midweek start of the year after three Sunday starts.
Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin
“Both teams had chances to score all night, and we couldn’t get the big hit. They got a leadoff triple and squeezed in a run and that was enough tonight. I thought C.J. Smith pitched well, and our bullpen did a good job but credit Georgia Southern as their staff got some strikeouts in key situations.”
Up Next
The Bulldogs conclude the season series with the Eagles in Statesboro on Wednesday. First pitch will be at 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
