Hey there folks, Kirk Carter here with another live blog of Georgia baseball. The Bulldogs will be taking on the Kennesaw State Owls in a mid-week game here at Foley Field.

I hope everyone is enjoying their Spring Break. If there is anyone in Bulldog Nation having a worse break than Zach Mettenberger (too soon?) it might be the Bulldog baseball team. Georgia went 0-4 on its last road trip losing to Alabama 13-2 in Birmingham. They followed that with an abysmal performance in Tallahassee, being swept by the #6 Florida State Seminoles including a Friday night rout of 12-1 and a Sunday beat down 17-5.

Kennesaw on the other hand is playing some good baseball. The Owls are only 4-8 on the year, but they’re coming off a 3-1 trip to Knoxville which included a big win over the Volunteers.

These midweek games are usually a test of depth, and Georgia has plenty of that. Still, this one should be a good game. So stay tuned to the blog here at WUOG, line ups and the live coverage are after the break.

Like I said earlier, Kennesaw is only 4-8, but they’re coming into this game on a positive note. They’re looking sharp this afternoon win black caps, grey jerseys and pants. Their starting lineup reads as follows.

2b – Sean McClurken: .308 AVG, 0 HR, 1 RBI
ss – Tyler Stubblefield: .286, 4, 6
rf – Josh Whitaker: .292, 0, 7
dh – Drew Fowlkes: .281, 3, 10
c – Ronnie Freman: .319, 1, 11
lf – Clint Roques: .256, 1, 6
1b – Ross Tendler: .282, 1, 4
3b – Peyton Hart: .233, 0, 7
cf – Jordan Craft: .174, 0, 1

On the mound for the Owls will be Zak Griffith. The lefty is 0-1 in 6 appearances this season. This will be his first start of the year. He brings a 7.71 ERA in 11.2 innings.

Georgia is battling some major injuries. Middle infielder Levi Hyams is still nursing an injury. Perno will also be holding Chase Davidson and Kyle Farmer out of this one. No doubt he’d rather have his top guns ready for conference play.

Tonight’s lineup for the Dawgs:

lf – Johnathan Taylor: .341 AVG, 0 HR, 12 RBI
rf – Peter Verdin: .294, 3, 8
3b – Colby May: .208, 1, 7
dh – Brett DeLoach: .318, 1, 6
cf – Zach Cone: .383, 1, 6
c – Christian Glisson: .455, 0, 5
1b – Kevin Ruiz: .321, 1, 5
2b – Cooper Moseley: .000, 0, 0 (he’s only had 1 official AB, lay off him)
ss – Todd Hankins: .233, 0, 3

On the mound for the Dawgs will be junior Eric Swegman. The right-hander will be facing a Kennesaw line-up that contains only one southpaw (DH Drew Fowlkes).

Swegman has a 0.00 ERA in 3 innings this season. He’ll be making his third appearance and his second start.

Top 1st

Swegman gets set to stand in against McClurken. Swegman is a juco transfer out of Young Harris College. The program up at Young Harris has produced a wealth of talent, including major league Nick Markakis.

McClurken goes down looking on a beautiful 3-2 fastball from Swegman.

Stubblefield steps in for the Owls. The senior shortstop is KSU’s top returner, hitting .300 with 7 home runs and 27 RBIs in 2009. He gets plunked by Swegman on pitch number 2 and will be headed down to first base.

Swegman has some concern with Stubblefield over at first. The shortstop has four steals on the year. He’s thrown over 3 times in this at bat with Whitaker.

Swegman has no trouble in getting Whitaker to pop out weakly to first base for out number 2.

Fowlkes is down on a big strike three cut. That’s three outs and we head to the bottom of the first. KSU 0 – UGA 0

Bottom 1st

Taylor stands in to lead off the first for the Dawgs. JT went 4-9 last week with 2 RBI. He flies out to left for out number 1.

Verdin whiffs on the wimpiest swing I’ve seen since Little League.

May is plunked in the knee with an offering from Griffith. I doubt it was intentional… and there’s little chatter from either bench. At this point, I’m sure Colby will take first base any way he can get it. The All-American is hitting an anemic .208 on the season, with only 1 homer.

DeLoach grounds a shot to Stubblefield at short. The Owl fires over the first for out number three. No runs, no hits, no errors, one left. End 1st: KSU 0 – UGA 0

Due up: Freeman, Roques, Tendler

Top 2nd

Freeman leads off the first with a long fly that nestles easily in the glove of Verdin out in right field. Kudos to the sparse crowd that made it out today despite the looming grey clouds.

Roques goes down swinging for out number 2. Thats 3 Ks so far for Swegman.

Tendler grounds one to short. Hankins fields it for an easy third out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, none left. Middle 2nd: KSU 0 – UGA 0

Due up: Cone, Glisson, Ruiz

Bottom 2nd

Cone rips the first pitch of the 2nd down the line to third where it is quickly nabbed by Hart. Great reaction by the Owl manning the hot corner.

Glisson draws a walk off of Griffith. That’s his 8th walk of the season.

Ruiz goes down swinging on a 3-2 fastball from Griffith. Freeman fires down to second to double up Glisson on a steal attempt. No runs, no hits, no errors, no one left. End 2nd: KSU 0 – UGA 0

Due up: Hart, Craft, McClurken

Top 3rd

Swegman gets set to start his third inning of work. He’s looked good so far. There have been some struggles in finding the strike zone, but we’re starting to get a glimpse of how good his stuff can be.

Hart grounds a ball through the left-side gap and past a diving May for a base hit to lead off the third inning.

Craft is quick to follow, taking Swegman’s fastball back up the middle for a single. No one out here in the third and KSU is threatening with two men on.

A McClurken bunt doesn’t get far. Glisson is able to quickly nab it and get the lead man at third. Craft moves down to second and McClurken stands at first with one out.

Stubblefield rips an 83 mile an hour pitch to the left-side of the infield for a base hit. The speedy Craft is able to wheel his way from second on home, KSU leads it 1-0.

Brady Weiderhold will come out for a quick word with Swegman. The Bulldogs already have lefty Blake Deiterich warming up in the ‘pen in case this inning gets out of hand.

After falling behind 3-0, Swegman walks Whitaker on a 3-1 fastball. That will load up the bases for Kennesaw State.

The strike zone is proving elusive for Swegman here in the third. He walks Fowlkes on four straight fastballs. McClurken comes around to score and make it 2-0 Owls.

Coach Perno has seen enough. In comes Blake Deiterich with bases loaded and one out in the third.

Deiterich is 0-1 on the year in 5 appearances with a 4.76 ERA in 5.2 innings pitched. He’s got above average stuff. A nice breaking ball that is complemented by fastball you’ll see in the mid to high 80s. He’s a typical bullpen guy here in the SEC.

Deiterich comes in an gets Freeman on strikes for out number 2. Unfortunately, he follows by plunking Roques on the shin. Chalk up another run for Kennesaw, they lead it 3-0.

Tendler rips a ball past May at third and two runs will come around to score on the play, the throw home wasn’t even close to getting a sliding Fowlkes. Kennesaw now leads 5-0.

Hart shoots the ball back up the middle for his second hit of the inning. The single will plate Roques and Tendler, Kennesaw leads 7-0 here in the third.

Craft is called out on a controversial batter’s interference call on the Glisson throw down to first. That’ll end an abysmal inning for the Dawgs pitching staff. 7 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, and one left on base. Mid 3rd: KSU 7 – UGA 0.

Due up: Moseley, Hankins, Taylor

Bottom 3rd

Moseley is quick to retaliate for the Dawgs in their half of the third. The freshman takes the first pitch over the right field wall for a home run and the Dawgs are on the board 7-1. It’s also Moseley’s first hit on the young season.

Hankins flies out to right center for out number one here in the bottom of the third. Perhaps its the score on the board, but Georgia is throwing patience at the plate to the side here in the third.

Taylor rips a grounder that sneaks through the gloves of both Stubblefield and Hart for a one-out single. It seems Georgia was the victim of a lot of those hits in the prior half inning. The speedy JT is now on first, lets see how Kennesaw handles it.

Verdin weakly grounds one down the line, it’ll be fielded by McClurken and thrown on to first for out number 2.

May displays another example of his terrible pitch selection and grounds a chopper to Stubblefield for out number three. Georgia manages one run on two hits. End 3rd: KSU 7 – UGA 1

Due up: McClurken, Stubblefield, Whitaker

Top 4th

Dieterich will start off the 4th for the Dawgs. The final line on Swegman: 2.1 IP, 5 runs all of them earned, 3 hits, 3 strikeouts, 2 walks, and a hit batsman.

McClurken leads off the first with a grounder to Moseley at second base. The freshman fields it cleanly and whips it to Ruiz at first for out number 1.

Dieterich is able to get Stubblefield swinging for his second strikeout of the afternoon. That’s out number 2 here in the 4th.

Whitaker chops one to Dieterich for out number three. No runs, no hits, no errors. Mid 4th: KSU 7 – UGA 1

Due up: DeLoach, Cone, Glisson

Bottom 4th

DeLoach stands in here in the bottom of the 4th for the Dawgs. The freshman from Pierce County bounced one to short his first time up. He chops one to second base for an easy out number 1.

Cone rips a nice looper out to center field. It’ll settle in front of Craft and the sophomre has himself a base hit here in the 4th.

Glisson flies a ball out to right field for out number two.

Robert Shipman is coming into this one to pinch-hit for Ruiz. The freshman had a good series against Stetson two weeks ago. Last week he went 1-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.

Shipman takes a good pitch and loops it over the head of Stubblefield for a base hit. Georgia has a two out rally going here in the bottom of the 4th.

Moseley stands in after going deep in his first trip to the plate. The freshman doesn’t wear batting gloves, very old school… if only he hiked up the pants, the look would be perfect.

Mosely takes the 3-2 pitch high and inside to draw a two out walk. The Dawgs have the bases loaded as Hankins steps up to the plate.

Hankins gives one a ride out to right field, the ball stops short at the warning track for out number three. The Bulldogs leave three on base, and pick up two hits. End 4th: KSU 7 – UGA 1.

Due up: Fowlkes, Freeman, Roques

Top 5th

Fowlkes stands in for Kennesaw, the lone Owl lefty has struck out and walked. He, along with 6 other teammates, scored a run in the KSU 3rd.

A grounder by Fowlkes is bobbled by Moseley at 2nd base. That will be scored an error and Kennesaw will get the lead runner on for the first time since that big third inning.

Freeman is not going to ease Georgia’s suffering, he takes a Deiterich offering out to left for a base hit. Two men on here in the top of the 5th as Georgia will turn to senior right hander Steve Esmonde.

Esmonde is 1-0 on the year with a 4.24 ERA in 5.2 innings pitched. He is not going to gas anyone, only a mid-80s fastball, but he does have good control and a nice complementary breaking ball.

Kennesaw decides to test Esmonde straight away with a bunt by Roques. Esmonde fields and throws Roques out at first, Fowlkes and Freeman advance on the sacrifice.

Forget what I said about control. Esmonde plunks Tendler and Kennesaw loads the bases with one out.

Hart rips a single past Shipman at first, that will plate Fowlkes and Kennesaw adds to their lead 8-1.

Craft stands in now for Kennesaw, the bases still loaded with Owls. His batter’s interference call mercifully ended the Kennesaw half of third. Esmonde sits him down on three straight pitches for out number two.

McClurken will ground it down to May at third to end the top of the fifth. Kennesaw picks up a run on two hits. They leave three stranded. Mid 5th: KSU 8 – UGA 1.

Due up: Taylor, Verdin, May

Bottom 5th

Taylor grounds one down to Stubblefield at short. The Owls’ shortstop is able to fire down in time to nab JT for out number 1.

Stubblefield shows off some good range to track down a Verdin dribbler. Peter is no slouch on the base paths either, he’s gunned down for out number 2.

The final line on Dieterich: 1.2 IP, 3 R all earned, 3 H, 1 K, 0 BB, 1 HB

Colby May strides to the plate here in the fifth. The Dawgs really need him to find his stroke. In an offense that lacks oomph, he’s the lone source of power at the plate.

May is fanned swinging, Colby’s 15th strike out of the year. Georgia gets no runs, on no hits. End 5th: KSU 8 – UGA 1.

Due up: Stubblefield, Whitaker, Fowlkes

Top 6th

Stubblefield starts the Kennesaw 6th with a ground out to Moseley at second base for out number one.

Whitaker snakes a line drive down the first base line, the ball will roll down the fence on the right field side and wind up as a double for Whitaker. That is only the second extra base hit for Kennesaw tonight.

Yikes, Esmonde with a walk of Fowlkes. The right-hander wasn’t even close to the plate in that at bat. Kennesaw has two men on here with only one out in the sixth inning.

Moseley bobbles a grounder from Freeman. He’s able to toss it to Hankins at short, the throw is rushed and sails way over the head of Shipman to score Whitaker. Its now 9-1 Kennesaw State.

Roques grounds weakly to Hankins at short who fires over to Shipman for out number three. So after a hit and an error, Kennesaw scores one and strands one. Mid 6th: KSU 9 – UGA 1.

Due up: DeLoach, Cone, Glisson

Bottom 6th

DeLoach sloppily starts the 6th with a chopper down to third base. Hart has no problem with it and Georgia has one out.

Cone gets robbed by a highlight reel catch by McClurken. The Owls’ second  baseman ranged back to make a leaping, over-the-shoulder catch for out number 2.

Glisson flies out to left for out number three. Nothing doing here in the 6th. End 6th: KSU 9 – UGA 1.

Due up: Tendler, Hart, Craft

Top 7th

Tendler shoots a long liner down the left field line to lead off the 7th with a double.

Hart comes in, with three hits for the Owls. He chops this one up the middle to Moseley at short for out number one, but Tendler will advance on the play.

Esmonde is able to get Craft swinging for out number 2. A play here and Georgia might be able to survive the lead off double.

Esmonde rears back and fires in an absolute rope for strike three. Georgia survives the double and we head to the seventh inning stretch. Mid 7th: KSU 9 – UGA 1.

Due up: Shipman, Moseley, Hankins

Bottom 7th

Jeff Brown starts his second inning of work for Kennesaw. Sorry I didn’t mention it last inning, chalk it up to the PA team not announcing it. The final line for Griffith: 5 innings, 1 earned run on two hits, two walks, a hit batter, and three strike outs.

Shipman goes down singing here to start the 7th, followed by a screaming line drive to second from Moseley for out number 2.

Zach Taylor will pinch hit here for Hankins. Despite a reputation as a big hitter, Talor is only hitting .190 on the year.

I eat my previous words, Taylor slams a long fly ball to the gap in left center for a double. Thats the first extra base hit for Georgia tonight, only their 5th hit in the game.

Johnathan Taylor (no relation) come up with two outs here in the Bulldog 7th. He grounds out to short to end the inning. End 7th: KSU 9 – UGA 1

Due up: McClurken, Stubblefield, Whitaker

Top 8th

Defensive changes for the Dawgs. Levi Hyams checks in to play short in place of Hankins. We’ve also got a new pitcher, lefthander Patrick Boling.

Esmonde threw three innings, gave up an unearned run, three hits, two strikeouts, a walk and a hit batter.

Stubblefield got out, somehow. Whitaker rips a ball up the middle for a base hit and Kennesaw has a man on with one out in the 8th.

Joe Gorley will stand in as a pinch hitter for Fowlkes. Fowlkes hasn’t had a bad night two walks and reached on an error. He scored twice tonight for Kennesaw. Gorley will draw the walk and Kennesaw has another man in scoring position as Freeman steps up to the plate.

Freeman scorches a single to plate Whitaker from second. Kennesaw now takes a 10-1 lead.

A shoe string catch by Moseley at second base is good for out number two. Tendler stands in as Kennesaw still threatens. The first baseman is 2-3 tonight with two doubles, two RBI, and two runs scored.

Tendler grounds to Hyams who will fire on to first for the third out. Mid 8th: KSU 10 – UGA 1.

Due up: Verdin, May, DeLoach

Bottom 8th

Verdin loops a ball out to right for out number one. May follows with a grounder to second for out number two.

Its now a good time to mention that Georgia got outscored 51-10 last week in four games against Alabama and Florida. So much for pitching being Georgia’s strength.

DeLoach gets people moderately excited with a flyball to center that winds up as out number three. The spanking continues. End 8th: KSU 10 – UGA 1.

Due up: Hart, Craft, McClurken

Top 9th

Tieles will stay out there for inning number 9. He’ll face Hart who stands in at 3-4 with 3 base hits. With a looper down the first base line he’ll pick up hit number 4 and lead off the Kennesaw 9th with a hit.

The line for Boling: .1 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, O K, 1 BB

New pitcher for Georgia. Zach Laughlin takes the hill. The righty is making his third appearance of the year. He’s got a 0.00 ERA in 1.1 innings.

The line for Tieles:

McClurken squibs a ball to Hyams at short, Levi bobbles it before getting the toss off to Moseley at 2nd. Moseley’s turn and throw misfires and scoots past the glove of Shipman to allow McClurken to reach 2nd base on a fielders choice and error.

Stubblefield rips a ball into the corner that Taylor can’t handle. Stubblefield is given the triple and the RBI. Kennesaw now leads it 11-1.

I would not trust this defense with my child. They can’t seem to hold on to anything.

Verdin corrals a Whitaker fly ball for out number three. Last chance for the Bulldogs. Mid 9th: KSU 11 – UGA 1.

Due up: Cone, Glisson, and Shipman

Bottom 9th

An error by Hart allows Cone to sneak into first base and start this Georgia inning off with a baserunner.

Glisson can’t follow and skies a shallow fly to center for out number 1.

Shipman with an absolute rope through the gap for a base hit. We’ve got men on first and second with one out. Rally cap time!

Mosely grounds into the 6-4-3 double play and Kennesaw wins this one 11-1. Georgia has now been outscored 62-11 in its last 5 games, all losses. We’ve now been spanked by our opponents by a combined 104-74. Yikes.

UPDATED POST GAME NOTES!

Coach Perno summed it up best in the post game when he said “we just aren’t a very good baseball team, and I don’t know how we got here”. Georgia has looked downright atrocious over the last week.

For a team that came into the season touting its depth and experience on the mound, Georgia has fallen flat on their faces when it comes to getting guys out. Offensively, when substitute Robert Shipman represents 1/3 of your offense, you’ve got to start questioning how well this lineup, as presently constructed, is working.

“The wins and losses early in the season don’t bother me right now. Its the [margin of runs] the lack of energy, lack of confidence, lack of pride. I thought this was a gritty team, we were gonna have to be to score runs this year, but we just don’t have it. I’ve never been more disappointed in a team than I am right now.”

While Perno may be disappointed, so to is Colby May, a guy not living up to the lofty expectations of the pre-season. An 0-3 night, including his 15th strike out of the year represents the struggle he’s had to get back to form.

According to May he thinks its something thats between the ears right now. He’s trying to play looser and be more aggressive at the plate. Personally, I think its the attempted aggression that’s killing him… his pitch selection was absolutely terrible tonight.

Georgia heads to Kennesaw tomorrow for a rematch with the Owls, for guys like Robert Shipman, revenge will be at the forefront of their minds. Colby May just wants the team to “go out and have fun, try and play with some pride tomorrow.”

For Perno, he doesn’t see the pride and doesn’t see anyone on the team taking a leadership role. When asked to identify a player in the clubhouse capable of leading this team, Perno said freshman shortstop Kyle Farmer. Unfortunately for the Dawgs, Farmer is out anywhere from 3-6 weeks with a hurt wrist.

Looks like its going to be a long season here in Athens.