State's rally falls short as Georgia takes series opener, 10-9
No. 5 Georgia jumped out to a commanding 10-2 lead on Thursday and No. 4 Mississippi State’s ninth-inning rally came up short in a 10-9 loss at Dudy Noble Field. It marked the Diamond Dogs’ first home loss of the season and snapped a nine-game losing streak.
State fell to 25-5 overall and 7-3 in the SEC while Georgia improved to 25-6 overall and 8-2 in the league.
Trailing 10-7 in the ninth, State plated two runs in the ninth on a Georgia throwing error and a Bryce Chance sacrifice fly. But Aidan Teel grounded out with runners at first and second to end the game.
Georgia opened the scoring in the top of the first with a little help from State. Tre Phelps opened the first with a leadoff single and later scored the game’s first run on a passed ball.
Phelps would add to Georgia’s lead an inning later with a three-run homerun as the visiting Dogs held a quick 4-0 advantage.
State would get on the board in the bottom of the second when Gehrig Frei led off with a solo homerun.
After a solid showing last week, State starter Charlie Foster (0-1) was taken out after giving up a leadoff double in the third. Foster allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
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Georgia quickly got the run back in the top of the third when Rylan Lugo’s sacrifice fly played Henry Allen, who led off the inning with a double.
The Diamond Dogs cut the deficit to 5-2 in the bottom half of the third thanks to a bases-loaded walk to Ryder Woodson. But State gave away another run in the top of the fourth on a wild pitch, making the score 6-2.
Georgia would blow things open with a four-spot in the top of the fifth to take a 10-2 advantage. Kenny Ishikawa had a two-run single and Phelps had an RBI single in the inning.
State started to show some life in the seventh inning and cut the deficit to 10-7. The Diamond Dogs put up five runs, highlighted by a two-run double from Woodson and an RBI double from Jacob Parker.
Georgia starting pitcher Joey Volchko (6-0) got the win and Caden Aoki earned his third save of the season. Volchko allowed two runs on eight hits in five innings of work with three strikeouts and two walks. Phelps and Ishikawa paced the Georgia offense with three hits apiece.
Frei had three hits to lead State’s offense while Parker, Teel and Noah Sullivan each had two hits.
State and Georgia resume the series on Friday with a 6 p.m. start.
