Diamond Dogs fail to 'put everything together'

By: JAMIE CWALINSKI

Posted: 4/30/07

More than a month after sweeping Auburn to begin their conference slate, the Diamond Dogs still are searching for their second SEC series win.

For the fourth straight weekend, Georgia (17-28, 7-14 SEC) was unable to pull out a victory in the Sunday rubber match, falling to Kentucky in Lexington, 13-5.

DIAMOND DOGS BASEBALL

Diamond Dogs Baseball (17-28, 7-14 SEC)

Friday: Lost at Kentucky (30-13-1, 9-11-1 SEC), 8-7 (12 innings)
Saturday: Won at Kentucky, 9-3
Sunday: Lost at Kentucky, 13-5
Next Game: vs Wofford, Tuesday 5 p.m.

"You would think at some point we'll be able to get over the hump, but we just can't quite put everything together," head coach David Perno said in his postgame radio show.

Despite taking an early 4-1 lead in the finale, the Diamond Dogs were unable to recover from a three-run homer from Wildcats shortstop Ryan Wilkes in the fourth which provided the ultimate lead.

In keeping with the recent trend, the team's Friday night defeat came in extra innings.

In the series, the Diamond Dogs outhit the Wildcats in all three contests by a combined 41-28 margin.

Shortstop Gordon Beckham homered in all three contests, giving him a team high 12 for the year, while catcher Joey Lewis went 8-14 highlighted by a 5-for-5 outing Saturday.

On the contrary, Georgia's pitchers struggled with control, allowing Kentucky's offense to take advantage.

After a two-run homer off closer Joshua Fields tied the game in the tenth Friday, fellow reliever Trevor Holder could not protect a one-run lead in the 12th, surrendering four walks ahead of the deciding single.

In the finale, four Diamond Dog pitchers combined for six walks, three hit batsmen and four wild pitches.

"We're always missing a key ingredient to allow us to win, and this weekend we can't pitch," Perno said. "We're walking too many."