The Red and Black

Issue date: 3/20/09 Section: Sports

Interview with starting pitcher Alex McRee

If the Georgia baseball team's defense was good in Friday night's series opener against Mississippi State, it was superb in Georgia's 4-0 win in the battle of the Diamond Dogs Saturday afternoon.

Despite some nervy, bases-loaded situations early on, Georgia starting pitcher Alex McRee combined with relievers Michael Palazzone and Will Harvil and closer Dean Weaver for a solid pitching display in the Bulldogs' fourth shutout of the season.

"Everyone in the SEC can hit, so you gotta win with pitching over the long run," McRee said. "You can win 9-8 games, but you're not going to do that all year. You gotta win the close ones."

Buoyed by a crowd of 4,461, the largest ever in Foley Field history, No. 4 Georgia (18-2, 3-2 SEC) ran its home record up to 13-0, the team's best ever start at home, while clinching a series win against Southeastern Conference foe Mississippi State.

"I tip my hat to our fans," said head coach David Perno. "But I also tip my hat to this team and the team before. Trust me, I was here when we were winning SEC Championships and we wouldn't sell it out. It's really a good feeling that our program is turning the corner."

Despite Georgia's win, it was Mississippi State that showed the initiative in the early innings. It took a fine double play and some stoic pitching from Georgia to get out of bases-loaded situations in the second and third innings.

After a sluggish start offensively, Georgia broke through in the fifth inning when catcher Joey Lewis homered to left field for the 1-0 lead.

Georgia could not muster much on offense after that, though. But some solid pitching from freshman Palazzone kept Mississippi State at bay.

"He pitches like he's a senior, like he's been around the game," Lewis said. "He reminds me of a guy, Doc on 'Major League: Back to the Minors.' That's who he reminds me of."

But Georgia did not rely solely on Palazzone's cultured pitching. In the eighth inning, with Lewis and shortstop Levi Hyams on base, pinch hitter Lyle Allen smashed a home run to right field to increase Georgia's lead to 4-0.

"I was just trying to stay aggressive," Allen said. "He threw a changeup, and I got around on it."

With the series win already secured, Georgia will look to sweep the series when they face off against Mississippi State in the final game Sunday at 2 p.m. Sophomore pitcher Justin Grimm is slated to start for Georgia.

"We've just played lights out so far, and hopefully we can keep it up tomorrow," McRee said.

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