From UGA Sports Communications

ATHENS, Georgia – Kennesaw State edged Georgia 5-4 Tuesday at Foley Field in front of a crowd of 1,535.

The bullpen featured a quartet of Georgia relievers in Blakely Brown, Tucker Bradley, Shane Tucker and Andrew Gist, who collectively delivered 4.1 scoreless innings of work. Offensively, Georgia collected five hits and drew 10 walks but left 11 men on base.

Kennesaw State (5-3) struck first using the long ball to make the score 2-0, but Georgia responded in the bottom of the frame by scoring Aaron Schunk on a Keegan McGovern sacrifice fly. On the same play in an attempt to catch Will Campbell at third, an overthrow on the relay from third baseman Jeremy Howell allowed the junior base runner to score, evening the game at two.

The Owls tacked on another home run in the top of the second, but a base hit from Michael Curry in the third scored McGovern from second to make the game 3-3.

In the top of fifth, junior Drew Moody replaced freshman starter Christian Ryder with runners on first and second, surrendering just one of the freshman’s runs in the frame. In the next inning, Kennesaw State pushed its fifth run across the plate with a Taylor Allum home run off Moody.

Pinch running for LJ Talley, Mitchell Webb cut the Owls’ lead to one by scoring on a Taylor Wilkes wild pitch in the eighth.  Georgia dropped its second straight one-run game and fell to 3-5.

Dawg Tracks:

- After three relief appearances, freshman Christian Ryder maneuvered his first start of the year with four earned runs in four innings of work.

- Drew Moody made his season debut in the top of the fifth, allowing one run with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings.

- McGovern stole second in the bottom of the third, placing himself in scoring position for Curry’s RBI base hit. The junior is 5-for-5 in steals for his career.

Coach’s Corner

Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin

“I thought our bullpen was outstanding they gave us a chance, our defense was good, we did everything right but get the hit when we needed to get the hit. We won in a lot of categories tonight except for the most important one and that’s the runs.

“Our kids are going to keep working and keep battling, it was a good baseball game we just have to find a way to get a base hit. We had the right guys up at the right time we just couldn’t get a ball to fall.”

“I thought our bullpen was really good and kept us right there and gave us a chance to win it. Good to have Drew Moody back, Blakely Brown, Shane Tucker, Gist, Bradley, all those guys threw the ball really well and gave us a chance to win.”

On getting ready for UAB:

“We have to continue to play the way we’re playing. We just have to get hits. When you have guys in scoring position, and I think we left 11 guys on base and I think we were 1-12 with runners in scoring position and when you have guys in scoring position you have to find a way to get hits and weren’t able to do it tonight.”

Player Perspective

Sophomore C Michael Curry:

On the team’s performance:

“They came out hitting, and we made a few mistakes, and they took advantage of it. Our pitching staff did well, but we didn’t take advantage of our opportunities.”

On moving forward:

“Eliminate the free-bee. Eliminate the free bases and just take advantage of the opportunity. Bases loaded with one out, you’ve got to find a way. We played pretty well, but we’ve got to come out and be ready to play.

Up Next

Georgia plays host to UAB for a three-game series to continue its 11-game home stand. Game one, slated for SEC Network, begins at 5 p.m. on Friday.

Follow the Dawgs

For the latest on Georgia Baseball, follow the team on Twitter (@baseballUGA), Instagram (@baseballuga) and Facebook (GeorgiaBaseball).

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