ATHENS — In his first career SEC Friday night start, junior Tony Locey improved to 8-1 on the year to lead ninth-ranked Georgia to a 6-4 win over Florida in front of 3,106 at Foley Field.
The Bulldogs (35-12, 14-8 SEC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead against Gator starter Tommy Mace who pitched 3.1 innings and walked a career-high seven before Florida went to the bullpen. The Gators (28-19, 9-13 SEC) employed six pitchers on the night.
Locey provided six innings before the Bulldogs turned to the bullpen for the final nine outs. Locey scattered three runs (two earned) on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Ryan Webb took care of the seventh and Zac Kristofak notched his sixth save by taking care of the final two frames.
Bulldog junior Tucker Maxwell smacked a leadoff home run for the second time this year. It was his team-leading 10th home run of the season. After three consecutive walks by Mace (7-4), Georgia junior Cam Shepherd grounded out to second for an RBI to make it 2-0. Florida responded in the top of the second with back-to-back singles off Locey and a miscue by Georgia first baseman Patrick Sullivan to cut it to 2-1.
The Bulldogs loaded the bags in the bottom of the fourth when Riley King and freshman Randon Jernigan reached on walks and LJ Talley was hit by a pitch. Jernigan crossed the plate on an RBI- single to center by graduate designated hitter John Cable. A deep fly ball to left by Shepherd allowed King to tag up and score increasing for a 4-1 advantage. The scoring was capped by an RBI single by freshman right fielder Chaney Rogers scoring Talley. Georgia added a run in the sixth before the Gators got a pair in the seventh and one in the ninth for the final.
Locey was making the Friday Night start in place of sophomore ace Emerson Hancock who missed his second consecutive start due to rest a lat muscle. The Bulldogs also were missing their leading hitter in third baseman/closer Aaron Schunk who is out with a sore heel/Achilles. The Bulldogs left 13 men on base.
