The Red and Black

Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: JAKE DANIELS Kennesaw infielder Andrew Martin tries to pick off Georgia outfielder Matt Olson Wednesday. The Dogs lost 8-6 at home. [Click to enlarge]

Take an inability to defend bunts, add five errors, sprinkle in only four hits in the first seven innings, and stir. The result?

An ugly 8-6 Diamond Dog loss to Kennesaw State at home Wednesday, a day after they beat the Owls 12-5 in Kennesaw.

"It was the first time that we've collectively played poorly for as long as we did," Georgia head coach Dave Perno said.

"We've made mistakes in other games and they've hurt us, but we've hung in there and guys have picked each other up. But tonight we just didn't do that."

The first inning was reminiscent of things to come for the Diamond Dogs, when only starter Alex McRee appeared to make an effort for a bunt by KSU leadoff man Jacob Robbins. Robbins ended up on third on the play and later scored. The Owls added two more in the third on another Robbins bunt single and an error by third baseman Ryan Peisel. Things got even uglier for the Diamond Dogs in the sixth when they allowed four more runs. A passed ball allowed the first run to score, then right fielder Matt Olson misplayed a single by KSU's Martin Baker, allowing two more to score. The next batter reached on another Peisel error that allowed a run to score.

"Midweek games you just have to come out and take care of business," Peisel said. "We should be able to take it to these guys every time, but when we come out sluggish like that and not making the routine plays, we ain't gonna beat anybody."

The Georgia offense made a run at it in the eighth, scoring three on four singles, but couldn't muster enough for the win.

Shortstop Gordon Beckham's mini-slump continued, with the junior from Atlanta going 0-for-3 and getting hit by a pitch. Beckham was 0-for-5 Tuesday in Kennesaw. During that two-day span, his average has dropped from .517 to .474.

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