Diamond Dogs beat LSU, Fields sets UGA save record

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - Seventh-ranked Georgia won its ninth straight Southeastern Conference game, posting a 6-3 win over LSU Friday in front of 2,243 at Alex Box Stadium, and Bulldog closer Joshua Fields set the school record with his 34th career save.

The Bulldogs (26-12, 13-3 SEC) got another fine start from junior Trevor Holder who improved to 5-2 while Fields registered his 11th save of the year and now holds the career saves mark, passing former All-American and major leaguer Cris Carpenter who tallied 33 from 1985-87.

Georgia used a couple of two-out rallies to take an early 2-0 lead on the Tigers (23-15, 6-10 SEC). In the second, Lyle Allen reached on an infield single that third baseman Michael Hollander threw wide of the bag allowing the Bulldog freshman to advance to second. Sophomore second baseman Michael Demperio smacked an RBI-triple over the head of centerfielder Leon Landry for a 1-0 edge. Then in the third, junior shortstop Gordon Beckham (1-for-2, 2R, 3 BB) smashed a two-out double and sophomore Rich Poythress followed with one of his own, bringing Beckham home for a 2-0 advantage.

Holder tossed three hitless innings until the Tigers notched a pair of two-out singles in the fourth. Then, Holder retired shortstop DJ LeMahieu on a flyout to keep it 2-0. In the fifth, Georgia extended its lead to 4-0. After an intentional walk to Beckham moved Matt Olson to second, the Bulldogs executed a successful double steal. Catcher Micah Gibbs' throw to third to try and get Olson sailed in to left field and allowed him to score and Beckham to reach third. After retiring Poythress for the second out, junior Bryce Massanari delivered a run-scoring single for a 4-0 edge. In the sixth, LSU brought in right-hander Louis Coleman for Martin who allowed four runs on six hits through five innings.

The Tigers cut the Bulldog lead in half in the seventh as five straight LSU hitters reached after the first out. Mahieu and Clark singled and Gibbs was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Then, Taylor Davis notched an RBI on a bases-load walk which ended Holder's night. The Bulldogs turned to sophomore left-hander Alex McRee. He allowed a pinch-hit run-scoring single to Sean Ochinko that made it 4-2. Then, he battled back to strikeout Ryan Schimpf and got Hollander to flyout. Holder's final line was 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on six hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts.

The Bulldogs got the two runs back in the top of the eighth on a two-out bunt attempt by Beckham that was misplayed by Coleman as he bobbled it and then threw it away. It allowed Peisel and Olson to score to put Georgia in front 6-2. Peisel had reached on a two-out walk and Olson followed with a base hit. The Tigers threatened in their half of the eighth after McRee registered the first two outs. He then issued back-to-back walks and after a run-scoring single by Gibbs brought the Tigers back to within three at 6-3, Georgia looked to senior All-America closer Joshua Fields. He came on and got Davis to bounce out to send it to the ninth. McRee allowed one run on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 1.1 innings.

In the ninth, the Tigers loaded the bases on Fields on a pair of walks and a strikeout wild pitch. However with two outs, Fields struck out LeMahieu for the final out. Meanwhile, the Tigers got a fine outing from Coleman who went the final four innings, surrendering just two unearned runs with two walks and four strikeouts.

"It was great to see us play well in a Friday night SEC road game and get that first one down here," said Georgia coach David Perno. "We got a great start from Trevor (Holder) and the bullpen preserved the win, and I was really happy for Joshua to get the record tonight. Offensively, we executed well with two outs and Gordon got the bunt down and we were able to push out our lead which was important."

The series continues Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. ET. The Bulldogs will start junior right-hander Stephen Dodson (5-1, 3.97 ERA) while the Tigers will counter with junior right-hander Jordan Brown (3-0, 4.28 ERA).