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Monday, Jun. 01, 2009

Bulldogs’ season comes to end

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Georgia Bulldogs saw their season slip through their fingers as they fell to Ohio State 13-6 on Sunday afternoon in the NCAA’s Tallahassee Regional.

Jumping out to a five-run lead after its first two trips to the plate, Georgia looked like it was going to cruise to another routine victory over Ohio State.

But a lack of control from Georgia pitchers and some untimely mistakes forced the game to spiral out of control as the Bulldogs lost 13-6 to end their season.

Despite being given an early lead, starting pitcher Jeff Walters could not make it out of the second inning as he allowed three runs on three hits, walked two, hit a batter and struck out two. Walters threw 34 pitches.

“We just didn’t pitch well and didn’t play good defense,” head coach David Perno said. “When you get to this level in these games, those are two things that are a must. It’s frustrating and a little bit disappointing.”

Trailing by only a single run in the seventh inning, the Bulldogs had runners at the corners and only one out. At the plate was slugging first baseman Rich Poythress, the hitter Perno and company would have wanted up, given the situation.

Unfortunately, Poythress was unable to come through as Ohio State closer Jake Hale recorded the strikeout. Bryce Massanari grounded out following Poythress’ at-bat, and the threat was over.

“I thought the game changed in the seventh inning,” Perno said. “We had our guy up with runners on the corners. Their guy did a better job. Jake Hale punched Poythress out. I thought the game switched at that time. You have to win those moments in these types of games, and we didn’t (Sunday).”

Ohio State then scored six times in the bottom of the seventh to put the game out of reach.

The bright spots for Georgia were the efforts of Zach Cone and Joey Lewis from the plate.

Cone led off the game with a home run to right field on the second pitch and added a three-run homer to left in the second. Cone went 4-for-5 with four RBI, while Lewis went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the sixth.

“Zach and Joey had the only big hits for us,” Perno said. “We came down here, and Massanari didn’t have a hit the whole regional. Cerione went hitless. He didn’t run a ball out, and those things are just not conducive to winning ball games.”