2019 D1 NCAA Regionals: Uncharacteristic Game for UGA Leads to Blowout Win for FSU
By. Andrew Rodberg (twitter.com/404thebeat)
ATHENS, Georgia — Mid inning struggles doom UGA as FSU forces UGA into an elimination game (Dawgs lose 3-12)
In the second UGA game of the 2019 NCAA D1 Regional, the Dawgs gave ace Emerson Hancock (8-2 1.56 ERA) the nod to face Seminoles’ CJ VanEyk (9-3 3.74 ERA).
With UGA the designated visiting team tonight, the Dawgs got to work early as Tucker Maxwell saw a fastball and took it for a solo homer to left field to give the Dawgs a quick lead in the top of the 1st. Singles by Aaron Schunk and John Cable put runners on base but VanEyk was able to get out of the jam only down 1-0.
A leadoff double by Tucker Maxwell in the 3rd, followed by a single courtesy of Riley King and a fielder’s choice by Schunk gave UGA a 2-0 lead.
Hancock was cruising through the first 2 innings but fell into some trouble in the bottom of the 3rd. He left the ball over the plate and Tim Becker hit a solo homer to right field to get FSU on the scoreboard. FSU followed up that lead-off homer with two consecutive singles to tie the game at 2-2. A crazy double play assisted by CF Tucker Maxwell ended the 3rd inning with the game 3-2 FSU lead.
Hancock looked to settle down in the 4th but a bloop single by Nander DeSedas and a line-drive single by Tim Becker gave FSU their first lead of the evening at 5-2.
After giving up 5 runs, Hancock was replaced in the bottom of the 5th and Ryan Webb got the call. Hancock ended his outing with 9H’s, 4ER’s, 3K’s.
Webb came in and gave up 3 singles, a (3-run) homer and a walk to allow FSU to extend their lead to 10-2. Adam Goodman took over after Webb couldn’t get more than one out in his outing. Goodman came in and closed out the inning with a strikeout and groundout.
Goodman worked 1.2 IP, 1H and 2K’s then Jack Gowen replaced him in the 7th. Gowen gave up a walk and a 2-run homer to push the score to 12-2. The Dawgs were finally able to put a run on the board in the top of the 8th. After 2 singles, Schunk hit a ground ball into a fielder’s choice to give the Dawgs their 3rd run of the game.
Gowen stayed in the game and worked the 8th while ending his outing with 2IP, 1H, 2R’s, 2BB’s, 1K as the Dawgs fell to FSU 3-12. CJ VanEyk worked 8 IP, 9H’s, 3ER, 9K’s.
The Dawgs now have a 12:00 noon matchup tomorrow vs FAU and then a possible 6:00pm matchup with FSU (if they win vs FAU).
Continue to Support our Dawgs as their season is not over!
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