3/22/19 9:30pm

Pitching Duel Leads to 1-0 LSU victory in Game #1 (UGA vs LSU Game #1 Recap)

Cover Photo: @BaseballUGA/Twitter

By. Andrew Rodberg

In what was the first real test for the Dawgs in 2019, the opponent came in the form of the LSU Tigers. With their first sold out game of 2019, the Dawgs welcomed #7 LSU to Foley Field on Friday night. With SEC Baseball fans on notice, the game didn’t disappoint.

As the first pitch got underway, Emerson Hancock got the ball for the Dawgs to face LSU’s Zack Hess. With both pitchers considered the best in the SEC, neither offense was able to get anything going. In the 1st inning, Hancock walked the leadoff batter but didn’t fall into any trouble for a while. As for the UGA offense, they attacked Hess off the bat, but LSU’s defense kept the game in check. Both pitchers fell into some trouble early, but settled down as the game progressed.

Following the first two innings, Hancock was able to sit down 12 consecutive LSU batters on his way to a 2 hitter through seven innings. Hancock did fall into some trouble in the top of the seventh, when LSU’s Antoine Duplantis connected on a 2-2 pitch to center field, that put the Tigers at second base with no outs. This ultimately would be the downfall for the Dawgs as they were able to force a ground out and fly out but gave LSU a 1-0 lead.

As for Zack Hess, he methodically picked apart the UGA lineup while relying on his defense to come to his rescue in big spots throughout the game. In the 1st inning, the Dawgs threatened with two consecutive singles but left a runner stranded on third base. Hess then struck-out seven batters from the second-seventh innings. This put a damper on the UGA offense, as they continued to put base-runners on, but were unable to get that much-needed base hit to tie the game.

In the bottom of the seventh, Mason Meadows got on base with a single followed by a Chaney Rogers double that put runners on second and third with one out. The Dawgs looked to tie the game up, but Hess’ slider left batters struggling to hit the ball effectively. In doing so, the Dawgs were once again unable to bring home the tying run and the threat ended on a strikeout and ground out.

The eighth was more of the same, the Dawgs were able to get to Hess as his pitch count began to climb. Cam Shepherd earned himself a leadoff single and got in scoring position with LJ Talley up to the plate. With the game coming down to the wire, the Dawgs relied on LJ to come through.  LJ was able to connect on a pitch and get himself a single, but aggressive base running, came to haunt the Dawgs as Shepherd was given the go to round third base. A late throw to home plate spoiled the Dawgs’ efforts to tie the game once more as Shepherd was called out at the plate.

The Dawgs in the ninth inning, called upon Justin Glover to pitch. Glover gave up one hit but was able to work a clean inning to give the Dawgs a final chance to force extra innings. In the bottom of the ninth, the Dawgs went down in order and LSU secured a Game #1 series victory.

The Dawgs now fall to 19-3 on the season and look to tie up the series tomorrow at 1:00pm. The Dawgs will send CJ Smith to the mound with hopes of getting that much- needed win in game #2.

The game will be broadcasted on the SEC Network. Tune in to cheer on our Dawgs!

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