Georgia edges Tech in series finale

ATLANTA -- Just in time for a run for the College World Series, Georgia has found new depth in its starting rotation.

Nick Montgomery pitched five strong innings in his first career start and Georgia beat Georgia Tech 3-2 on Tuesday night to salvage one win in the three-game season series.

Joshua Fields set the Georgia record with his NCAA-leading 16th save of the season as the Bulldogs, No. 7 in the Baseball America poll, beat the No. 25 Yellow Jackets.

Fields was overpowering, striking out the last two batters, but Georgia coach David Perno was especially excited about Montgomery. Perno said Montgomery will continue to pitch as the team's No. 4 starter.

``I think the key was Montgomery,'' Perno said.

``We scrambled the first two times we played them, not having a true No. 4 starter. We were always in the bullpen by the second or third inning. It's just hard to manage, it's hard for your team to get in the flow. Tonight Nick was just phenomenal. We found a niche for him.''

In each of the first two games between Georgia and Georgia Tech, Perno kept Montgomery available as a reliever for Southeastern Conference weekend games. The Bulldogs clinched the SEC championship last weekend at Vanderbilt, so Perno gave the senior the start.

Montgomery (2-1) gave up only two hits and one run with one walk and three strikeouts.

``He was such a valuable commodity earlier in the year that we couldn't make that move,'' Perno said. ``... He was better than expected tonight.''
Montgomery said pitching before 22,599 at Turner Field was ``a lot different'' than his last start for Young Harris.

``I'll always remember it,'' he said.

Georgia improved to 5-1 against Georgia Tech in games played at Turner Field.
Georgia (34-17) beat the Yellow Jackets after clinching the Southeastern Conference championship by winning a weekend series at Vanderbilt. Georgia Tech (36-16) lost for the first time in 12 games this season against teams from the state of Georgia.

``I hope we both get a chance to advance through the NCAA tournament without seeing each other before Omaha,'' Perno said, referring to the College World Series. The two teams could be placed in the same regional.

Each team has one conference series left next weekend before playing its conference tournament.

``I hope we see them again at some point in time just because I think they're in,'' said Georgia Tech coach Danny Hall of Georgia. ``We've got to still keep playing well this week, I think, to make sure we get in, and we've got to play well next week (in the ACC tournament).''

Ryan Peisel had two hits, including a first-inning homer, for Georgia after the Yellow Jackets took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on Derek Dietrich's run-scoring single.

David Thoms gave Georgia a 2-1 lead when he drove in Matt Cerione with a second-inning single.

Tech cut the Georgia lead to 3-2 in the sixth. Charlie Blackmon reached on an infield single and scored from second on Thoms' throwing error from second base while trying to complete a double play.

Georgia Tech freshman Deck McGuire (8-1) gave up 10 hits and three runs in six innings.

Georgia left fielder Lyle Allen made a diving catch on the warning track of Jeff Rowland's long fly ball in the third inning. Allen, running toward the wall, left his feet and landed hard. He immediately bounced to his feet but was grimacing as he appeared to favor his left arm and left the game in the fifth.

The annual game at Turner Field benefits Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.