ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia baseball had all the momentum in the world coming into its first game against N.C. State.
The Bulldogs had just swept the Athens regional and even had destiny on their side. They defeated Georgia Tech and were set to play the Wolfpack in the super regional. This was just like the last time they made the World Series.
Yet, Georgia came out in game one and had no life. The Foley Field roared to life all last weekend, but on Saturday, it grew emptier as the game wore on. The stands grew especially quiet when N.C. State put up 11 runs in the second inning.
The Bulldogs ultimately got blown out in game one, 18-1. How did it happen? Here are three takeaways from game one of the Georgia vs. N.C. State super regional.
A Disaster on the Mound
Sophomore Kolten Smith has been one of the hottest or coldest pitchers in Georgia’s rotation all season.
The Ocala, Florida native earned a starting role after a career-high 12 strikeout performance in a career-high eight innings against Florida in May. However, coming into the game he allowed the second most runs of any pitcher on the team.
After a solid first inning, Smith allowed an atrocious 10 runs through, which practically ended the game right there. Chandler Marsh entered and allowed one more run in the second inning and an extra two in the third and fifth innings. Jarvis Evans allowed three runs, one in the sixth and two in the seventh, while Max DeJong, who closed the game out, allowed tow more runs in the ninth.
The rotation, as a whole, allowed 20 hits, five doubles and five home runs, while only netting six strikeouts between the three of them.
Georgia’s pitchers have never been the strong suit of the team this year. However, when the offense only scores one run, the pitchers need to keep their opponent to less runs than 18.
A lackluster offense
Georgia’s offense has been the team's strongest aspect this whole season.
Led by Charlie Condon’s record-breaking hitting performance this season and Corey Collins' knack for getting on base — he led college baseball coming into this game — that was the last thing Georgia fans were likely concerned about.
However, the offense was non-existent on Saturday.
Only four Bulldogs got a hit, with Collins nabbing an RBI after his base hit. However, the team couldn’t score a single run before the game was called early in the seventh. Condon went 0-2 and the rest of the team couldn’t carve out anything.
N.C. State’s Sam Highfill simply did his job. While he only nabbed two strikeouts, he allowed only four hits and one run through the six innings he was on the mound. His defense came through, something Georgia failed to do.
Bouncing back tomorrow
Georgia’s season is, simply put, in jeopardy.
The Bulldogs have one life left, needing to defeat the Wolfpack tomorrow to secure a game three.
What they can’t do, is lose all momentum like they did on Saturday. While it’s tough to claw back from a 11-0 deficit, the wind was sucked out of Georgia’s sails. The fans died down, and the players had no fight left, making multiple errors.
The team has to rally back on all fronts, or the Bulldogs won’t repeat history. They won’t make a return to the World Series for the first time since 2008. Their magical run will be over.
The Bulldogs need Condon, a projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, to look like it. They need a lineup that hit double-digit runs fairly often this season, to get close to that level again.
The series isn’t over yet, but if Georgia plays like the team did on Saturday, there won’t be much of a series left to play.