The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: RICHARD HAMM Georgia first baseman Joey Lewis takes a swing during the Bulldogs' game Tuesday at Foley Field. The Diamond Dogs won 9-8 against East Tennessee State after a rocky start. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: RICHARD HAMM Rich Poythress leans to avoid a close pitch during the Bulldogs' Tuesday night game against East Tennessee State. The Dogs won 9-8. [Click to enlarge]

[Click to enlarge]

BASEBALL
Georgia 9, East Tennessee State 8
A week after suffering a disappointing non-conference loss to Winthrop, the Diamond Dogs managed to avoid repeating history Tuesday, topping East Tennessee State 9-8 when shortstop Gordon Beckham scored the winning run on a wild pitch.

Tied at eight in the bottom of the ninth, Beckham singled, stole a base and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly. With two outs and two strikes on sophomore Robbie O'Bryan, ETSU pitcher Ben Andrews threw one to the backstop, scoring Beckham and giving Georgia the win.

"We picked ourselves up when we really needed to, and we caught ourselves before it was too late," said Beckham, who was 3-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored. "It's probably going to mean more to us coming back like that than beating the crap out of them."

The need for a Bulldog comeback became apparent early, with junior Stephen Brock getting the start for the Bulldogs, allowing five runs (only two earned) in one-plus innings. But his defense didn't give him much help.

Beckham booted a grounder from ETSU leadoff man Troy Mendez in the first, allowing him to reach base. Three batters later second baseman Michael Demperio dropped a pop up, putting runners on the corners for ETSU's Derek Trent. Trent drove Brock's pitch over the scoreboard in right field for a three-run shot.

The Buccaneers added two more in the second on a homer by its No. 9 hitter. The Bulldogs were down 8-1 going into the bottom of the sixth.

"It's just a bad start," Georgia coach Dave Perno said. "Granted, there were some defensive plays, but you can't give up a two-out home run in the first inning. You've got to have some fortitude and push through that."

The Bulldog offense came to life in the sixth, with three walks and three singles for three runs. After Beckham had an RBI single, and freshman outfielder Lyle Allen drove in two with his one-bagger.

Behind reliever Steve Esmonde's three hitless innings to close out the ballgame, Georgia's bats continued to surge, adding a pair of runs in both the seventh and eighth before Beckham's two-out, ninth-inning slide.


"Our guys were determined today, and last Tuesday I definitely couldn't have told you that," Perno said. "But, today they were and it shows that we're definitely turning a corner."

Despite leading the conference and winning eight-straight SEC contests, the seventh-ranked Bulldogs have dropped midweek games to Kennesaw State, Winthrop and Georgia Tech in the past three weeks.

They'll have another non-conference matchup tonight when they host Georgia State.

"We get really up for SEC games, and then I guess it's just like we come out to these midweek games and feel like we can kind of go through the motions and win," Esmonde said.

"But, you can't take it lightly against some of these teams, because they're good teams. I definitely think this is another eye opener. I don't think we'll come out flat again."

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