Nothing is more poetic – and satisfying – than ending a rival’s season to advance in the postseason, and that’s exactly what Georgia baseball did Sunday night in the Athens Regional final against Georgia Tech.
The Bulldogs defeated the Yellow Jackets 8-6 in extra innings at Foley Field in Athens to reach their first Super Regional in over a decade, which is exciting for new head coach Wes Johnson.
“I’m going to start tonight with some thank yous,” Johnson said after the game. “I think it’s important anytime you have success at a program and pull off something like this because it takes a lot of people.
“Our families sacrifice a lot, so we’ll start with them. And (UGA) President Morehead and (athletic director) Josh Brooks, their vision, not only for the athletic program but this university in general, is something that I think is special. I’ve been to a lot of places, and it’s second to none here.”
Georgia’s win didn’t come easy. The Bulldogs trailed 5-3 late in the contest but battled back with two solo home runs from Trey Phelps and Kolby Branch to tie things up.
However, Georgia Tech held an advantage in the bottom of the ninth. The Yellow Jackets had loaded the bases with two outs when Peyton Green hit a ball into no man’s land. Still, Georgia first baseman Corey Collins made an athletic play and tossed the ball to pitcher Chandler Marsh, who tagged first base with his foot while falling down. It went to review, but the play stood and was ruled an official out to extend the game.
In the top of the 10th, Georgia took over as Phelps scored on an error by the Yellow Jackets, and Collins doubled to right center, bringing around Fernando Gonzalez and Paul Toetz to make it 8-5.
Leighton Finley, who started Friday’s game against Army, finished the game for Georgia on the mound. Georgia Tech got back one run, cutting the lead to 8-6, but the Bulldogs quickly closed it out.
Collins, the Regional’s Most Valuable Player, recorded the final out at first base on a throw from Charlie Condon.
“Pure joy. We saw fight, like Coach said, through the whole nine or 10 (innings). I had to ask how many we played. I didn’t even know. But we fought the whole time, which sealed the deal,” Collins said. “We fought all year to get here and brought it back home. We defended our turf, and it was great to be with these guys and just take it to the next level, and that’s what we wanted to do.”
Collins, Phelps, and Condon each went 2-for-3 at the plate for Georgia. Despite giving up all five runs, starting pitcher Zach Harris was effective in six innings of work, but a quintet of Bulldog pitchers followed in relief. Marsh got the win on the mound and was credited with the save.
Georgia jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first before Georgia Tech scored five runs across its next two at-bats. Regardless, the Bulldogs methodically fought back into contention and didn’t give up hope.
“I think it’s important that I tell the players all the time that you can’t ever hit the panic button. It’s a long game. It’s the teams who can stay focused, the teams who can understand they’ve got to get us out 27 times as well that keep teams in games like this,” Johnson said before heaping praise on his team’s leaders.
“I’m sitting beside two superstars. I mean, Zach Harris being able to go six innings today and just staying out there, keeping it calm, settling it down, and keeping the game where it was, was huge. And then, Corey Collins, he’s been doing it all year. I don’t even know what to say about him. What do clutch seniors do? They have moments just like what you saw tonight.”
Georgia defeated Army on Friday before knocking off UNC-Wilmington on Saturday, setting up a third game against Georgia Tech in the final. The Bulldogs swept the Yellow Jackets during the regular season.
Georgia, the No. 7 seed nationally, will take on No. 10 seed North Carolina State this weekend at Foley Field for a chance at a College World Series berth. The Bulldogs’ last trip to the College World Series at Omaha, Neb., was in 2008.