HOOVER, ALABAMA -- Georgia evened its SEC series with Alabama Saturday, rolling past the Crimson Tide 8-1 in front of a crowd of 3,597 at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
Georgia junior Ryan Lawlor provided seven strong innings, allowing just one unearned run on four hits, a walk and 11 strikeouts for a victory. He improved to 4-4 while Alabama starter Will Carter fell to 1-5, surrendering four runs on six hits in 5.1 innings. Georgia got at least one hit from eight of the nine starters in the lineup and five different Bulldogs drove in a run.
Georgia (20-16, 6-8 SEC) grabbed a 3-0 lead in the third, scoring on a couple of hits, a passed ball and an error. Freshman Keegan McGovernsingled and scored the first run on a passed ball by catcher KyleOverstreet. Senior Jared Walsh made it 2-0 with a two-out RBI-single and sophomore Stephen Wrenn came home on an error by shortstop Mikey White. Wrenn was on after a two-out walk and that extended his on base streak to all 36 games this year. Alabama (17-16, 5-9 SEC) got a run back in the bottom of the frame on a two-base error by Trevor Kieboomand a two-out RBI-single by Georgie Salem.
In the sixth, Georgia extended its lead to 6-1, scoring three runs on four hits and one Crimson Tide error. McGovern got it started with his third hit of the day, and freshman Trey Logan followed with his third sacrifice bunt and Alabama went to the bullpen in Jake Hubbard. Nick King reached on an infield single and Skyler Weber snapped an 0-17 slump with a two-run double. Wrenn made it 6-1 with an RBI-single. In the seventh, Logan added an RBI-single for a 7-1 lead. In the eighth, Jared Walsh lined a one-out double and came around to score on a run-scoring single by Zack Bowers to make it 8-1.
Mike Mancuso pitched the final two innings for the Bulldogs while a trio of relievers followed Carter for Alabama after he was lifted in the sixth.
"Today was a complete win as we hit the ball, pitched well and playedgood defense for the most part." Georgia coach Scott Stricklin said. "We had guys on base all day, and it was a satisfying win. I thought Ryan Lawlor had good life on his fastball, and our guys say it's tough to pick the baseball up when they face him in scrimmages. He's sneaky fast with good stuff and pitched great today to even the series."
The rubber game of the series will be on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m. ET (SEC Network+).
