Diamond Dogs take weekend series against Top 5 Wildcats

by Chris Lakos, UGA Sports Communications — Powered by an eighth inning grand slam by Mitchell Webb and seven strong innings by Kevin Smith, Georgia defeated fourth-ranked Kentucky 6-3 Sunday to clinch an SEC series.

Smith registered a save in Friday’s win over the Wildcats and then limited the league’s top offense to a pair of runs on eight hits with six strikeouts over seven innings Sunday for his third victory of the year. Redshirt junior Drew Moody took care of the final two frames to secure the win.

Georgia (19-29, 7-17 SEC) took a 1-0 lead in the second on a leadoff home run by sophomore second baseman LJ Talley. It was his second of the year and came on his 20th birthday. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with one out in the third but the Wildcats turned a double play to keep it a one-run contest. In the third, Kentucky got a pair of two-out doubles to tie the contest.

In the seventh, junior Riley Mahan lifted a solo home run to center field, his team-leading 10th of the year, to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead. Georgia responded in the eighth off Kentucky’s ace closer, Logan Salow who had allowed just two earned runs all year.

Freshman Tucker Bradley got the inning started with a bunt single and then freshman Cam Shepherd put down his first sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Michael Curry got ahead in the count 3-0 and on a 3-2 pitch laced a game-tying RBI-double. Keegan McGovern drew a walk and Talley followed with an infield single to load the bases. Webb stepped up and crushed his first career grand slam and a 6-2 advantage. The Wildcats pushed across a run in the ninth for the final.

Kentucky dropped to 32-16 overall and 15-9 in the SEC. Salow fell to 2-5, spoiling a fine start by Justin Lewis who allowed just one run on five hits in seven innings.

Georgia returns to action Tuesday in Atlanta at SunTrust Park where it goes for a series sweep of Georgia Tech. First pitch will be at 7 p.m, and the game will be available on the Bulldog Sports Network from IMG.

Dawg Tracks:
*Junior 3B Mitchell Webb smashed his first career grand slam to put Georgia in front 6-2 in the 8th. It was the first grand slam by a Bulldog since 2016 by Nick King in a 10-3 win over Ole Miss. 
*Sophomore 2B LJ Talley celebrated his birthday Sunday by smashing a home run in his first at bat. It was his second home run of the year and gave Georgia a 1-0 lead in the second.
*Freshman RF Tucker Bradley extended his hitting streak to a career high eight games and finished 2-for-5. During this streak, he is batting .500 (18-36).
*Sophomore DH Michael Curry notched his team-high 17th multiple-hit game as he went 3-for-3 with an RBI-double and a walk.
*Georgia turned a season-high four double plays Sunday, the most since a 2014 win over Binghamton.
*Freshman C Austin Biggar threw out two Wildcats trying to steal second.

Player Perspective: Mitchell Webb
"It was great to win the series here. I was trying to get the ball in the air and get one of the runs in (when I came up with the bases loaded), and I put a good swing on it and it felt good. I haven't hit a grand slam since high school, and today's was the coolest thing I've done."
  

Coach's Corner: Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin
"Both of those guys (Michael Curry and Mitchell Webb) had big,big hits. Michael hammered his ball to tie the game, and Mitchell got down two strikes against their closer, and he came though too. He's a hard worker and again came through in the biggest of situations, and I'm happy for them and all the guys. Our defense was really good today and all weekend. We turned four double plays and you watch our guys just growing up and playing with some confidence. We competed well against the No. 4 team in the country and won a series here on their field. Also, what Kevin Smith was able to do after closing it out Friday with a save and getting a win today going seven innings against their lineup,that was outstanding."