Georgia’s Season Cut Short, Robbed in the Ninth in Chapel Hill

The Georgia Bulldogs season involves an finish because the North Carolina Tar Heels ripped their hearts out 6-5. For what was principally a gradual recreation, we noticed the UGA hitters struggle for his or her lives within the ninth inning, and are available up simply brief.

Saying comes up brief doesn’t actually do it justice. The Dawgs entered the ninth down 6-2, with nearly no momentum. That each one modified when the senior lefty Chaney Rodgers hit an enormous 3 run homerun off the scoreboard to convey the Dawgs inside one. What occurred subsequent will relaxation within the minds of Bulldogs gamers and followers alike, as Josh McAllister got here to the plate because the tying run. After battle, Mac despatched a 2-2 pitch deep to heart area and appeared to have tied the sport. North Carolina Middle fielder Vance Honeycutt had different plans, as he leaped up over the wall and robbed McAllister of a recreation tying residence run.

Whereas that was what this recreation can be remembered by, rather a lot occurred to set the stage for that second. Let’s dive into it.

The Tar Heels jumped on the board first within the prime half of the 2nd inning. After Alberto Ozuna reached on an error, catcher Tomas Frick labored a stroll on a extremely arduous fought 11 pitch at bat. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Johnny Costagnozzi hit a laser by means of the 6 gap to attain Ozuna and provides North Carolina a 1-0 lead. They added to that lead within the subsequent inning after a sequence of arduous hit balls result in a bases loaded 2 out state of affairs with Mikey Madej on the plate. Madej hammered a Jaden Woods’ fastball into proper heart for a 2 RBI single, adopted by a wild pitch that prolonged the Tar Heel result in 4.

The Dawgs did a pleasant job answering within the backside half of the third to cease the Tar Heels rising momentum. After an error and a single by Parks Harber within the third, Chaney Rodgers lastly obtained the Dawgs throughout residence plate with an enormous 2 out single to attain Cole Tate. Whereas the inning ended with 2 guys on base, it felt like an enormous run for UGA after Carolina had plated some consecutive runs.

The Tar Heels struck once more within the sixth with an extended residence run by catcher Tomas Frick off lefty Jaden Woods. Woods had settled in very properly after scuffling out of the gate. He gave Georgia 3 superb innings out of the bullpen and stifled the Tar Heel offense that was exhibiting indicators of getting scorching. He gave the Dawgs simply what they wanted which was retaining them within the recreation and giving the offense an opportunity to win it.

I assumed UGA starter Luke Wagner did what the Dawgs wanted him to do. His last line of two ⅔, 3R, 2ER doesn’t inform the entire story. An error within the second inning led to a run, and he left within the third with runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs with each runners ending up scoring. The Dawgs aim was to get Wags one time by means of the lineup, he did that and gave the ball up with an opportunity to resolve the third down 1.

After Wagner and Woods, Jack Gowen and Chandler Marsh mixed to provide the Dawgs 3 ⅓ innings of actually good ball. The 2 righties have been two of probably the most constant arms on the workforce all yr, and did what they wanted to do to provide the Bulldogs an opportunity.

Till the ninth, it was a lot of the identical for the Dawgs as they struggled to get the large hit. They hit 1-9 with runners in scoring place and stranded 12 base runners by means of the eighth inning. The Dawgs didn’t go 3 up 3 down as soon as on this span, they’d baserunners on each inning and will solely scratch throughout 2 runs.

Hats off to the UNC pitchers although for making massive pitches in massive conditions, most notably nearer Davis Palmero. He got here on with 2 outs within the sixth and pitched into the ninth. He was throwing his 93-96 mph heater just about wherever he needed to, and for probably the most half had his manner with the UGA lineup. Starter Will Sandy, Shawn Rapp, and Nik Pry mixed to provide the Tar Heels 4 ⅔ of 1 run ball to permit the offense to get them the lead.

We’ve already talked about what occurred on the ninth, because the Dawgs confirmed the resiliency they’d proven all yr. After a number of come again wins, it appeared like one other was on the horizon. Sadly, they missed it by an inch, and should spend the following few days, weeks, and even years questioning what might have been. Because the Dawgs pack up their baggage, North Carolina will go on to face VCU within the Championship of the Chapel Hill Regional at 6 pm.