NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — Slate Alford’s grand slam capped a six-run ninth inning as Georgia beat Georgia Southern 7-2 Tuesday in front of a crowd of 5,685 at SRP Park.
The Bulldogs (11-1) went on top 1-0 in the third inning as Paul Toetz (3-for-4) scored on a wild pitch. He led off the inning with a base hit, took second on a single by Alford (3-for-5, 4 RBI) and advanced to third on fielder’s choice by Tre Phelps. The game was 1-1 until the ninth inning.
“We were finally able to get to some pitches in the ninth, and when they got them up, we didn’t miss them,” said Georgia’s Ike Cousins head baseball coach Wes Johnson. “Logan Jordan had a big at bat to get that inning started with a walk. Sebastian Murillo got a big hit to give us the lead. Paul Toetz had a nice night with three hits including an RBI-single in the ninth and then obviously, Slate didn’t miss his pitch. That ball may beat us back to Athens.”
Georgia sophomore left-hander Jarvis Evans started and went five innings, surrendering one run on two hits with three walks and a career-high eight strikeouts. After walking the leadoff batter, Evans retired nine in a row before a leadoff walk in the fourth to Jarrett Brown. Sam Blancato followed with a double as Brown took third. Evans battled back to allow just a run on a sacrifice fly, retiring the next three Eagles to send it to the fifth at 1-1. The Eagles put a pair of runners in scoring position in the fifth and Evans got the Bulldogs out of the jam.
In the sixth, the Eagles had two on with one out against Brandt Pancer. He struck out pinch-hitter Jonathan Jaime and got Sean White to bounce into an inning-ending fielder’s choice. Tyler McLoughlin took care of the seventh and then Zach DeVito pitched the final two innings for the victory. Eagle reliever Davis Smith dropped to 1-2, allowing five runs on three hits.
Up next, the Bulldogs return to Foley Field Wednesday to face Stetson. First pitch will be at 6:32 p.m.
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