Dogs' Perno must sit out SEC series opener

ATHENS - It will be a big event on the college baseball scene when fifth-ranked LSU visits 17th-ranked Georgia this weekend to open the Southeastern Conference schedule Friday.

However, instead of manning his post in the first-base dugout, Georgia's head coach David Perno will be at home watching television.

Perno will be serving his one-game suspension stemming from an ejection in the NCAA regional playoffs last year. Georgia then trailed Clemson 6-4 in the elimination game of the regionals when Perno was ejected in the eighth inning for arguing balls and strikes. On his way to the dugout tunnel, he hurled a bucket of baseballs onto the field, igniting the hometown spectators, and his team.

Georgia's Bobby Felmy and Jason Jacobs led off the ninth against Clemson with solo homers, and Clint Sammons hit another solo home run in the 10th as the Bulldogs rallied for a 7-6 win, advancing to the super regionals and ultimately to the College World Series.

Georgia (10-6) opened the season nearly a month ago, but SEC Commissioner Mike Slive ruled that Perno would have to sit out the first conference game.

``I hope getting ejected could be worth two wins,'' Perno said. ``This might be a good thing. I'm going to make out the lineup. There are no secrets. We know that LSU is going to throw Lane Mestepay and ride him as long as they can, and then come in with Jordan Faircloth. We are going to pitch Mitchell Boggs and Will Startup. There won't be a whole lot of strategy.''

Perno said he will watch the first six innings on television at home since the network airing the game is not available at the stadium. Pitching coach Butch Thompson will manage the game.

The Bulldogs are 7-1 in Foley Field, but 3-5 away from home. They have relied on a deep pitching staff, but their offense has been inconsistent.

``I personally have no idea who needs to be in the lineup from a consistency viewpoint,'' he said. ``I feel confident in our pitching because of the rock in the middle, Michael Heyl, and having a guy like Startup in the bullpen.''

The Bulldogs are batting .278 as a team, compared to .308 for LSU (14-4). LSU batters have driven in 144 runs, Georgia batters just 84.

``Nobody is getting the key hit,'' Perno said. A case in point was Tuesday when catcher Derek Smith hit a solo homer against Georgia Southern. But in two at bats with runners on, he made outs.

Only first baseman Josh Morris (.391 average, 5 homers, 12 runs, 18 RBI) and rightfielder Felmy (.300-2-10-11) have been consistent run producers.

The defense has been solid, but Perno pointed to three instances in the last week when Georgia failed to turn a double play with runners on the corners and one out.

The weekend rotation has undergone some change. Boggs (1.38 ERA, 1-1) will be making his first start after coming out of the bullpen so far. Sean Ruthven (4.11, 1-1) was bumped to Sunday. Heyl (2.79, 1-0) remains the Saturday starter. Brooks Brown (4.60, 1-2) was moved to the pen.

In Mestepay (1.89, 4-1), Georgia faces LSU's second winningest pitcher of all time (33-13). Run production for the Tigers has been consistent. Last weekend LSU beat Arizona State 6-5 and 20-3 and Western Illinois 10-8. Blake Gill, Ryan Patterson, Clay Harris and Nick Stravinoha hit consecutive home runs in the 20-3 win, the first time in school history that had been done.

Last season, Georgia saved a series sweep at LSU when Heyl pitched seven strong innings and the Bulldogs won 12-4, improving their record to 6-9 in the SEC. It was the first of 12 straight conference wins that launched the Bulldogs to a share of the conference title and was credited with being the turnaround game for the season.

``We have 18 guys on our team who went to Omaha last year and who have played in a lot of tough games,'' said Perno. ``They know what our system is, what our philosophy is. Coaching is out the window right now. The players have to turn it around. We have a good team. If we do what we can do, things will work out.''

NOTES: Georgia's game Wednesday at Georgia Southern was cancelled due to rain ... Friday's game against LSU will be televised on CSS and the first pitch is slated for 7:06 p.m. EST.