ATHENS — Disappointed from a lackluster performance in the SEC Tournament and then having to wait an extra day for its first NCAA Tournament game in seven years, the Georgia baseball team took out all its frustrations on Campbell on a hot Saturday afternoon at Foley Field.
The Bulldogs pounded out 15 hits, including four home runs, en route to an 18-5 rout of the Camels in both teams first game of the Athens Regional. The two teams were supposed to play their opening game on Friday night but lightning and rain forced the NCAA to push the game back a day.
“We had the option of playing the first game on Friday but we wanted to give our fans a chance to come out so we opted for the night game,” Georgia coach Scott Stricklin said. “It was disappointing the way it worked out but these guys came in today ready to go.”
Even though the offense put on a bruising display against five Campbell pitchers, it was actually a perfect fourth inning from Georgia right-hander Tony Locey in relief of starter Chase Adkins that set things in motion.
Adkins, the Dogs No. 1 pitcher, was battered for three runs on five hits in just three innings as the Camels led 2-0 and then 3-2 after a Christian Jones home run to open the third inning.
“(Campbell) was sitting on his curveball and Chase did not have his best stuff today,” Stricklin said. “We brought Tony in in the fourth and he gave us a quick 1-2-3 inning and I think that gave the guys a huge spark.”
Did it ever.
LJ Talley and Mason Meadows drew back-to-back walks and CJ Smith loaded the bases with no one out on a perfect bunt single against Camels’ starter Wes Noble. Tucker Bradley then ignited the quick explosion with a grand slam to right center to give the Bulldogs a 6-3 lead. The blast was the seventh slam of the season for the Bulldogs, a new team record, and the first for Bradley in his career.
But the Dogs weren’t done there. Keegan McGovern was hit by a pitch, Gainesville native Michael Curry singled, and Adam Sasser and Cam Shepherd both walked with one out to drive in McGovern. Curry then scored on a sac fly to center by Talley and Sasser scored on a wild pitch to cap a 7-run inning for a 9-3 lead.
"Honestly I was just trying to see something up. I was thinking curveballs were coming at me," Bradley said. "When I hit it I knew it had the chance and I was hoping it would at least get in the gap. Coming around third and seeing all my teammates get jacked up was a great feeling."
Georgia continued to blow up the Camels bullpen touching Harris Thomas for a run in just two-thirds of an inning and then smacking around Phil Simpson for four runs on five hits and two walks in 2 2/3 innings of work to extend the lead to 12-3 at the end of the fifth. A five-run eighth for Georgia off freshman right-hander Jamil Vanheyningen erased any thoughts of a Camels’ comeback.
“The wind was blowing out but we also had some great at-bats throughout the game,” Stricklin said. “We knew Campbell could swing the bats so we felt like we would have to score some runs.”
Campbell’s Matthew Barefoot opened the game ripping Adkins’s first pitch into left field for a single. He moved to second on a wild pitch on a strikeout of Jeff Hahs and then stole third with just one out and the Camels' top RBI guy in Jones at the plate. Jones walked, however, and Tyler Anshaw executed a perfect squeeze bunt to drive in Barefoot for a quick 1-0 lead.
The Camels threatened again in the second as Kyle Mehl had a bouncing double past Aaron Schunk at third and Bryce Myers was hit by a pitch, both with two out. Barefoot made it 2-0 with a RBI single to center.
The Dogs answered in the bottom of the second. Sasser doubled to left center off the glove of Barefoot to lead off the inning and came around to score on Shepherd’s two-run home run to right to tie the game at 2-2.
Georgia would give the lead right back on the first pitch of the third inning, however, as Jones crushed a screaming line drive homer just over the left field fence for a 3-2 lead.
In the fifth Curry knocked in Schunk with a RBI double and Sasser followed with a two-run shot off the camera tower in dead center for a 12-3 lead. Curry finished with two hits and an RBI, two walks, and scored three runs for the Bulldogs.
The Camels trimmed the lead to 12-5 in the sixth on a two-run home run to left by Barefoot, his third hit of the game, just over the glove of a leaping McGovern.
The Bulldogs offense put the finishing touches on the blowout win plating five more runs in the eighth on three bases loaded walks, a sac fly, and a RBI single from pinch-hitter Cole Tate for an 18-5 lead.
Blake Cairnes closed out the win for Georgia pitching the final two innings retiring all six batters he faced.
Georgia next will take on Troy in the winner’s bracket of the Athens Regional at 8 p.m. at Foley Field. Troy beat Duke 6-0 in the only game played on Friday and will be rested.
Campbell next was taking on Duke in the 4 p.m. game in the first elimination contest of the regional.
“(Troy) is fast at the top of the order and can really hit the baseball,” Stricklin said. “We’re going to have to keep those top guys off the bases. We knew it was a tough regional and it is showing that. But we’ll be ready.”
Georgia is expected to throw its No. 2 starter Kevin Smith, who leads the team in wins (8-1) and holds a solid 3.17 ERA.
