Spring Break
Early surge lifts Diamond Dogs to win
MICHAEL FITZPATRICK
Issue date: 3/1/09 Section: Sports
TUCSON, Ariz. - The Georgia baseball team's offense remained white hot as it scored early and often en route to a 12-5 demolition of the Arizona Wildcats at Frank Sancet Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Saturday.
The Diamond Dogs (7-0) battered Arizona (4-3) starter Matt Veltmann from the start as they knocked out 10 hits and seven runs against the Wildcat starter before he was lifted during Georgia's four-run fourth inning.
Junior center fielder Matt Cerione returned from his six-game suspension and went 4-for-6 with four RBIs and fell a home run shy of hitting for the cycle.
"I was real anxious today," Cerione said. "I was high on emotion and it was tough watching my team, but we kept winning and I was proud of them and without me we didn't even lose which just shows how well we play."
"He was jumping," Georgia head coach David Perno said. "With the way the younger outfield has been performing be felt obligated to perform and he did and I'm so proud of him.
In all, the offense pounded out a season high 21 hits, surpassing the previous high of 17 against Youngstown State in the season opener.
Catcher Joey Lewis went 5-for-5 with two RBIs and hit a majestic home run to left field in the seventh, his second of the season. He was also the first Diamond Dog to go 5-for-5 in a game since himself against Kentucky in 2007.
"I'm just seeing the ball well, " Lewis said. "And with that home run, it was one of the better swings I ever had."
The offense again over shadowed the Georgia pitching staff, as the Dogs received another splendid pitching performance from their starting pitcher.
Junior Alex McRee (2-0) cruised through the first four innings before walking two batters in the fifth, but thanks to a double play emerged unscathed. He has not allowed a run in 10 2/3 innings this season and feels he can sustain his early season success.
"I felt real good and everything was sharp until the fifth inning when I ran out of gas," McRee said.
Arizona broke up the Dogs shutout bid with three runs in the eighth that easily could have been more, were it not for a Wildcat baserunning blunder.
With runners on first and second with one out, Arizona right fielder Steve Selsky hit a long fly ball to left field that was nearly caught. But the ball hit the wall just above the outstretched glove of Zach Cone to fall for a hit.
But Selsky was called out for passing Dillon Baird on the basepaths, deflating the little momentum Arizona had built.
Arizona added two runs in the ninth against reliever Chase Hawkins for the final 12-5 score.
The Diamond Dogs (7-0) battered Arizona (4-3) starter Matt Veltmann from the start as they knocked out 10 hits and seven runs against the Wildcat starter before he was lifted during Georgia's four-run fourth inning.
Junior center fielder Matt Cerione returned from his six-game suspension and went 4-for-6 with four RBIs and fell a home run shy of hitting for the cycle.
"I was real anxious today," Cerione said. "I was high on emotion and it was tough watching my team, but we kept winning and I was proud of them and without me we didn't even lose which just shows how well we play."
"He was jumping," Georgia head coach David Perno said. "With the way the younger outfield has been performing be felt obligated to perform and he did and I'm so proud of him.
In all, the offense pounded out a season high 21 hits, surpassing the previous high of 17 against Youngstown State in the season opener.
Catcher Joey Lewis went 5-for-5 with two RBIs and hit a majestic home run to left field in the seventh, his second of the season. He was also the first Diamond Dog to go 5-for-5 in a game since himself against Kentucky in 2007.
"I'm just seeing the ball well, " Lewis said. "And with that home run, it was one of the better swings I ever had."
The offense again over shadowed the Georgia pitching staff, as the Dogs received another splendid pitching performance from their starting pitcher.
Junior Alex McRee (2-0) cruised through the first four innings before walking two batters in the fifth, but thanks to a double play emerged unscathed. He has not allowed a run in 10 2/3 innings this season and feels he can sustain his early season success.
"I felt real good and everything was sharp until the fifth inning when I ran out of gas," McRee said.
Arizona broke up the Dogs shutout bid with three runs in the eighth that easily could have been more, were it not for a Wildcat baserunning blunder.
With runners on first and second with one out, Arizona right fielder Steve Selsky hit a long fly ball to left field that was nearly caught. But the ball hit the wall just above the outstretched glove of Zach Cone to fall for a hit.
But Selsky was called out for passing Dillon Baird on the basepaths, deflating the little momentum Arizona had built.
Arizona added two runs in the ninth against reliever Chase Hawkins for the final 12-5 score.
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