The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Sports

FIELDS

The fifth-ranked Diamond Dogs lost their first SEC series of the season this weekend in Gainesville, dropping the final two games of their series with Florida.

Georgia was perfect in six conference series before the weekend, dropping just three games and winning every series.

The Gators got four in the third off Georgia starter Nathan Moreau in Sunday's rubber game, and added one in the seventh and two in the eighth for a 7-2 win.

"I don't think exams could come at a better time. We've got to go back and get better," Georgia coach Dave Perno said in his postgame radio show.

"We're still in a great position, we just didn't play well this weekend. We had more errors than we've been making and a lot more walks. Walks were the key."

Georgia pitchers walked seven Gators Sunday, and 13 on the series.

Georgia's lone runs Sunday came on seventh-inning RBI hits from Matt Cerione and Ryan Peisel.

Perno got his 100th career SEC win in Friday's series opener, a 7-4 Diamond Dog victory. Georgia jumped out to a 7-1 lead on four RBI from designated hitter Bryce Massanari, including a three-run home run in the third.

Starter Trevor Holder gave the Bulldogs seven innings for the fourth time this season, and closer Joshua Fields dominated over 1.2 innings for his 12th save of the season, striking out all five batters he faced.

"Joshua Fields was unbelievable," Perno said in a news release. "He was as good as I've seen him all year, and he's been real good all year."

The Gators managed to snap Georgia's 12-game conference unbeaten streak Saturday with a 7-2 win, with junior starter Stephen Dodson giving up five runs in four innings, including a four-run Gator fourth.

Classmate Gordon Beckham hit his NCAA-leading 20th home run, a solo shot in the eighth.

The homer was Beckham's 45th in his career, tying him for second all-time at Georgia. Former Bulldog first baseman Josh Morris hit 51 homers from 2003-06, and also shares the single season mark for a Bulldog, with 23 in 2006.

The Florida win also ended the Diamond Dogs' eight-game winning streak in Gainesville.

To say that Perno was less than enthused after the game would be an understatement.

"We didn't have real good at-bats, especially at the DH spot. They saw a combined five pitches and made seven outs. We hit into three double plays, and it was a poor defensive game too," he said in a news release.

Georgia (29-14-1, 15-5-1 SEC) doesn't return to Foley Field until Friday, when it kicks off a three-game series with SEC-West leading Ole Miss (28-17, 11-10 SEC).

The Rebels are coming off their first home series loss to Arkansas since 2002.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools