ATHENS, GA Bobby Felmy's two out RBI single in the bottom of the 11th lifted Georgia to a 7-6 extra inning, come-from-behind win over UNC Greensboro Friday evening at Foley Field.
The Bulldogs, who trailed
6-4 after seven and a half innings, scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the eight with two outs to tie the game at six, ultimately sending the game into extra frames where Georgia would eventually plate the winning run.
Right-hander Joshua Fields (1-0) recorded the win after allowing no runs on two hits in three innings of mound duty. Spartan southpaw Wes McCall (0-1) took the loss after the sophomore yielded one run on two hits in 2-2/3 innings on the hill. The Spartans used nine different pitchers throughout the course of the game.
Georgia tallied the first run of the game as the Bulldogs took an early first inning 1-0 lead after collecting three consecutive singles. Jonathan Wyatt singled through the ride side and centerfielder Joey Side followed with a single of his own to left to put runners on first and third with only one out. After Wyatt advanced to third on a wild pitch, designated hitter Matt Robbins drove him in with a single to left.
The Bulldogs scored another run in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead as Matthew Dunn plated Ryan Peisel, who doubled to start the inning, on a groundout to second. Georgia tacked on another run in the third inning when Wyatt scored his second run of the game on a double to left off the bat of Jason Jacobs.
UNCG roared back in the top of the fourth inning as the Spartans scored three runs on five hits to tie the game at 3-3. With the bases loaded following singles by Guy Welsh, Adam Deleo and Sean Snell, McCall drove in the first two runs of the season as the Gastonia, NC native doubled to left field, scoring Welsh and Deleo. Greg Feltes added a single of his own thereafter to score Snell with UNCG's third run of the inning.
Welsh put the Spartans out in front 5-3 in the top of the fifth when the junior cranked a two-run home run over the left centerfield wall. Senior David Adams led off the frame with a double off the centerfield wall that chased Bulldog starter Brooks Brown. Jermaine Mitchell followed with a sacrifice bunt to advance Adams to third before Walsh sent a no-doubter over the wall.
After Georgia scored a run in the bottom half of the fifth, UNCG regained its two-run lead as Mitchell manufactured a run for the Spartans in the top of the seventh. The Daingerfield, TX native led off the frame with a single to left, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. He then sprinted 90 feet to score UNCG's sixth run of the game on a wild pitch by Ben Jeffers.
With two outs and runners on second and third, Georgia left fielder Kyle Keen smoked a single up the middle to score both runs, knotting the game a 6-6 after eight innings of play.
Welsh led UNCG at the plate as the junior went 3-for-6 with a pair of RBI. Adams, Clinton McKinney and Feltes each added two hits apiece for the visiting Spartans. Joey Side and Ryan Peisel each had two hits for the Bulldogs.
The Spartans and Bulldogs resume their three-game series Saturday with first pitch slated for 2 pm.
AGATE:
Georgia Bulldogs 7, UNC Greensboro 6 (Feb 17, 2006 at Athens, GA)
UNC Greensboro...... 000 320 100 00 - 6 13 3 (0-1)
Georgia Bulldogs.... 111 010 020 01 - 7 10 1 (1-0)
Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Patrick Currin; Nick Starnes(2); Clay Gibson(3); Ryan Clear(4);
Josh Baas(5); Brandon Harvey(6); Greg Matson(7); Clinton McKinney(8); Wes McCall(9).
Georgia Bulldogs - Brown; McDaniel(5); Jeffers(7); DeSilvio(8); Fields(9).
Win-Fields(1-0) Loss-Wes McCall(0-1) T-3:30 A-1776
HR UNCG - Guy Welsh (1).
- UNCG -
