Georgia Baseball: Bulldogs Defeat Presbyterian

Zack Bowers, Photo by Sonny Kennedy, www.sonnykennedyphotography.com/

Jess Posey’s career-high offensive production, a solid start from Bryan Benzor and four innings of shutout bullpen work led Georgia to a 10-1 victory over Presbyterian Tuesday at Foley Field.

The Bulldogs (14-24) won their second straight as Posey went 3-for-4 including his first career home run, a two-run shot that was a part of a six-run outburst in the eighth. The Blue Hose dropped to 20-18.

Georgia collected 11 hits on the day plus sophomore Hunter Cole also posted three RBIs to help lead the offense. It was plenty of support for Benzor. He registered a career high five innings of work, while allowing just three hits and a run, which was unearned, to even his record at 2-2. Relievers Blake Dieterich, Mike Mancuso, Dylan Cole, and Patrick Boling each added one shutout inning of their own as the staff combined to allow PC just four hits.

Presbyterian starting pitcher Tim Corbin allowed four runs in six innings to fall to 2-2. Reliever Michael Ricchi surrendered six runs in 1.2 innings.

After two scoreless frames to start the game, the Bulldogs struck first. Freshman catcher Zach Bowers led off the inning with a single, he then reached third on a double by Posey, next centerfielder Justin Bryan hit a sacrifice fly to score Bowers. After a single by Curt Powell, Cole hustled down the line to beat out a double play allowing Posey to score and giving Georgia an early two-run lead.

In the fourth, Presbyterian responded with a run of their own. Leftfielder Brandon Martin bunted for a single and a wild throw by Bowers allowed him to advance to second on the play. Two batters later,Brandon Paul singled to center, scoring Martin and cutting the Bulldog lead to one.

Georgia extended the lead again in the fifth. With two outs and runners on first and second, Cole crushed a triple to right scoring both runners increasing the lead to three. Six more runs poured in for Bulldogs in the eighth. With two outs, designated hitter Brett DeLoach started the scoring rally with a single to center, knocking in Cole, next first baseman J.T. Phillips singled in another run, then Bowers came up and doubled in two runs. The scoring finally concluded with a two-run homer from Posey.

“We got good production from a few of our freshmen, and they got us going after kind of a slow start offensively,” said Georgia coach David Perno. “Overall, we played well, the two errors didn’t hurt us, and Bryan Benzor set the tone with his fine start. Everybody in the bullpen followed that up. Also, it was a good sign to have a big inning late in a ball game to stretch the lead out. We’ve got an important series coming up next, and hopefully this will give the guys some confidence.”

Next, Georgia will return to SEC action Friday for the first of a three-game series against second-ranked Vanderbilt. First pitch will be at 7 pm at Foley Field.

All photos copyrighted property of Sonny Kennedy, sonnykennedyphotography.com/