The Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs won the series opener against Ole Miss 6-3 on April 24th at Oxford University Stadium/Swayze field in front of 9,232 fans.

The Bulldogs opened the first inning to take the lead when Matt Cerione took advantage of an Ole Miss error to reach first. Colby May walked before rich Poythress popped a two RBI double, but the Rebels tied it up in the bottom of the half when Jordan Henry drew a walk to reach first before Logan Powers hit his fifth homer of the season.

Though Georgia didn’t get on the board in the next five innings, Trevor Holder only allowed two hits. Holder pitched six innings allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out three and walked three.
“This one was tough,” Georgia coach David Perno said. “Trevor (Holder) was phenomenal after the first inning. We walked the leadoff guy in eight and ninth, but we were still able to win. Our home run was worth four runs and their two were worth three. We didn’t get any help anywhere else in the league tonight but we took care of business. To come here in this environment and win was quite an experience.”
Neither team scored again until the seventh inning. In the top of the inning Michael Demperio singled to left field and reached second on a sacrifice bunt by Cerione.

A pitching change brought the Rebels reliever David Goforth to the mound. Goforth tossed a fly out to May and Demperio moved to third. Rich Poythress was intentionally walked and Bryce Massanari drew a walk to load the bases.

Joey Lewis smacked a grand slam homer for the tie-breaker.

The home run marked Lewis’s 13th of the season.

Kyle Henson came back in the bottom of the eighth to smack a two out solo homer. Wil Harvel threw two walks in his 1.2 innings before Dean Weaver put an end to the threat.

Weaver pitched the last 1.1 innings, allowing one walk, and was credited for his ninth save of the season.

Drew Pomeranz suffered the loss. He allowed three runs, two earned, on seven hits, struck out eight and walked two in his 6.1 innings of play.
“It was a great college baseball game and one Georgia deserved to win,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “We left too many base runners on and they were able to get the big hits. The home run in the seventh was the deciding thing and just knocked the wind out of us after we had pitched so well. At the end of the day, they got the hits and we didn’t. We left too many runners on.”
Poythress went 3-3 with two doubles, two RBI and a walk, for Georgia, while Levi Hyams and Peter Verdin each added one for Ole Miss.

Although four of the six runs by Georgia were from Lewis’s grand slam, Georgia outhit the Rebels 11-4.

All three of the Ole Miss runs came off of homers.

Larry Hardings is a writer for LeatherBeltStore.com check out his Georgia Bulldogs Belts – Georgia Bulldogs Wallets and his Gifts for Hunters