Georgia Baseball in the drivers seat despite falling in SEC Tourney

Georgia Baseball fell to Ole Miss in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament. However, the Dawgs are in the driver seat for postseason play to make the long drive to Omaha.

After an impressive SEC Tournament run, Georgia baseball fell to Ole Miss 5-3 in the semifinals. This trip to the semis was the first one since 2011. The defending champion Rebels put together an impressive fifth inning to reclaim the lead and win.

Georgia catcher, Mason Meadows hit a two-run homer in the second inning to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead. Ole Miss narrowed it to one in the third by scoring a run.

Then in the fourth inning, the Rebels stole the lead on three straight hits to start the frame plus an RBI-groundout from Cooper Johnson, giving them a 3-2 lead.

In the fifth inning, Georgia tied it up with a two-out RBI-single by Aaron Schuk who scored Chaney Rogers. It didn’t take Ole Miss long to reclaim the lead. Grae Kessinger hit his own two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth giving the Rebels the 5-3 lead.

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Relief pitcher Tony Locey got himself out of a jam and with the bases loaded, struck out two batters and a groundout to avoid any more damage.

Georgia attempted a comeback in the top of the ninth getting two runners on with nobody out after a base hit by Patrick Sullivan and a Meadows walk.

Rogers got them both into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.

However, the Ole Miss pitchers got the best of Tucker Maxwell, striking him out before Riley King hit a fly out to end the game.

The Rebels used five pitchers in the game with Max Cioffi picking up the win.

Emerson Hancock got the start for the game, and it was known that both he and Locey would both be used for this game. However, the plan didn’t work out the way head coach Scott Stricklin wanted.

Hancock pitched 3.2 innings allowing three earned runs on six hit striking out three batters in the process. He would have thrown longer but had to leave in the fourth inning due to cutting his thumb. Stricklin informed media after the game that Hancock will recover and be fine.

Locey came into relieve him and got the final out of the fourth. He pitched a total 2.2 innings giving up two earned runs on four hits, walking one batter and retiring four. Locey received the loss giving him a 10-3 record on the season.

Justin Glover came into finish for the Dawgs pitching 1.2 innings giving up one hit and no runs. He walked a batter and struck out two.

This loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Dawgs, but that will be okay. For the second year in a row, the Bulldogs will likely host a Regional for the NCAA Tournament.

Georgia’s in the driver’s seat and looks like a completely different team than it did this time last year. The Bulldogs pitching seems only to get stronger and at the right time too.

This pitching staff is one of the best in the country, and the three aces are all hitting their strides. I expect Hancock, Locey and freshman stud Cole Wilcox to get used for the Regional.

The Dawgs offense could use another boost, but when Georgia’s playing as good of defense as they have been, it only takes one run to win.

I like Georgia’s chances this offseason to make it to Omaha and make a little noise in the 2019  NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs need to play their game and silence the outside noise.

Stricklin needs to get his team refocused and in the right mindset. Once there this team could be a sleeper in the tournament.

Georgia finds out its fate May 26 around 8:30 p.m. whether it’ll host or what will happen.