Spring Break
Cerione's single propels Diamond Dogs past Arkansas
MANIK K. GUPTA
Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: Sports
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The Diamond Dawgs (30-7, 12-4 SEC) rallied in the ninth inning to defeat fifth-ranked Arkansas 4-3 behind a walk-off base hit from outfielder Matt Cerione.
Tied at three heading into the home half of the ninth inning, Georgia brought in speedy pinch-hitter Johnathan Taylor, who drew a leadoff walk. Taylor advanced into scoring position on an error from Arkansas catcher Ryan Cisterna.
With runners on first and second and one out, the Razorbacks brought in hard-throwing lefty Stephen Richards.
Richards would face only one batter.
Cerione laced an 0-1 slider from Richards to the gap in the left centerfield to drive home Taylor sending home the sellout crowd at Foley Field.
"I just knew to try to stay on my legs and look the opposite field," Cerione said. "The first one I got a little out in front. I knew he was coming back with it, and I just waited back, stayed on my legs, and tried to shoot it opposite field. And, that's what I did."
Junior starter Trevor Holder was shaky in the first inning for the top-ranked Diamond Dawgs as he got behind in the count to Razorback second baseman Ben Tschepikow, who drilled a fastball to deep center, to give the Razorbacks an 1-0 lead.
Designated hitter Bryce Massanari blasted his 12th home run of the season, a three-run shot that towered over the left field wall, in the bottom half of the first stanza to give Georgia a 3-1 advantage.
The two-run cushion coupled with sharp command of his fastball eventually led Holder to regain his dominant form in what his head coach, David Perno, called "his best outing in league play so far."
"That first inning, you give a guy a 3-1 fastball right down the middle, they're supposed to hit it out," Holder said. "I was kind of mad at myself for getting in that count, but I settled down. Those guys played great defense behind me. You don't set down 10 guys in a row by yourself."
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