ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia got its first regional win since 2019 on Friday, holding off Army, 8-7, to open the Athens Regional at Foley Field.
Now, the Buuldogs will look for a spot in the regional finals on Saturday, taking on UNC Wilmington at 6 p.m in the winner's bracket. UNC Wilmington routed Georgia Tech 9-0 on Friday in the opening round.
On Friday, Georgia's Fernando Gonzalez drove in Dillon Carter with a sacrifice fly to left in the bottom of the eight inning for the eventual game-winner against Army.
Christian Mracna pitched the final 1 1/3 innings to get the win, fanning two and sealing the win with a ground ball to second with a pair of runners on base in the top of the ninth.
Army jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first but Georgia's Charlie Condon blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the inning. The Black Knights extended the lead to 4-1 in the third but the Bulldogs pulled within 4-3 in the bottom of the third.
Georgia tied the game in the fifth and took a 7-5 lead in the sixth, highlighted by a two-run double from Slate Alford. But Army tied it up in the top of the eighth on a pair of Georgia errors.