Its a drizzly and dreary afternoon here in Athens, Georgia, where the weather is very reflective of the way the local nine have been playing as of late.

Georgia comes into their weekend series on the backs of a five-game losing streak. The Dawgs have been outscored 61-11 over that stretch and hit a new low with a 11-1 loss against Kennesaw State here at Foley Field.

I’m Kirk Carter and I’ll be live blogging tonight’s game and Sunday’s contest against the Saints. In other words, I’ll be combining the boredom of a baseball game with the pain of having to read.

As I mentioned, Georgia comes into this game losers of their last five games. There might not be a team in the country that looks as bad as Georgia does right now.

Coach Perno has tried to shake a few things up, starting tonight will be Michael Palazzone a sophomore out of Marietta. Palazzone has normally thrown out of the Sunday slot, but an illness to typical Friday starter Justin Grimm has thrust the righty into Friday night’s matchup. Grimm will move back to Saturday and senior Jeff Walters will pitch the final game of the series on Sunday.

Sophomore Levi Hyams will mark his first start of the season at shortstop tonight. Hyams saw his first action of the year as a late inning sub against Kennesaw. He’s finally recovered from a back injury.

Georgia will still be without starting shortstop Kyle Farmer for another weak or so. Farmer underwent successful surgery on his left wrist earlier this week. Until then, Georgia will continue to miss a guy that Coach Perno has pointed to as a potential leader for this directionless club.

No word on Chase Davidson, who missed the Kennesaw game with a sprained ankle. He’s not in the lineup tonight, but he’s expected to see action this weekend.

STARTING LINEUPS AND ALL THE ACTION AFTER THE BREAK.

Starting tonight for the Saints
RF – Anthony Giansanti
CF – Mike Fish
2B – Dan Paolini
1B – Kevin Quaranto
C – Gary DerHagopian
DH – Larry Balkwill
LF – Kyle Hudson
3B – Mike Allen
SS – Andrew Sawyer

On the mound will be Robert Tedesco, the freshman right hander is 1-1 with a 7.80 ERA in 3 starts this year. Opponents are batting .344 against him and his WHIP is an astronomical 1.93.

The Bulldogs will be throwing out another new lineup tonight.
LF – Johnathan Taylor
RF – Peter Verdin
1B – Robert Shipman
CF – Zach Cone
C – Christian Glisson
3B – Colby May
DH – Zach Taylor
2B – Cooper Moseley
SS – Levi Hyams

As mentioned Michael Palazzone will be on the mound. The sophomore is 2-1 with a 9.45 ERA in 3 starts this season. He’s racked up a WHIP of 1.9. Palazzone was an 18th round selection of the Atlanta Braves out of high school. He’s right up there with Justin Grimm in terms of stuff.

Pregame
I know I ran the picture of the Bad News Bears at the start of this blog… Georgia just had a Bears moment. During his warmup for the first inning Palazzone was struck in the back of the head by a throw from catcher Christian Glisson. I’m not making this up. Fortunately, he’s alright and will be making the start as scheduled.

Top 1st

Giansanti gets things going with a high fly ball out to center field. Cone settles under it and we’re under way here at Foley Field.

Fish grounds one to Hyams at short, the sophomore settles under and fires to Shipman for a bang bang play at first.

Palazzone has a high release point and a high overhand delivery. He’s 6′2″, so with that extra leverage he can fire it in there in the high 80s and low 90s.

A screaming line drive is no match for Hyams, who nabs it for out number three.

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on. Siena 0 – Georgia 0

Due up: Taylor, Verdin, Shipman

Bottom 1st

Johnathan Taylor leads things off with a bouncer to second base. Out number 1.

I’m honestly concerned about my car. I knew it was a mistake to park in the lot behind left-field. Peter Verdin just rocked the first pitch he saw over the trees and easily 400 feet out to left field. That ball got of here in a hurry. 1-0 Georgia.

Shipman pokes a slow roller out towards short. He’s got that classic first baseman physique. I don’t need to leave it to you to guess that he was thrown out at first base by a mile.

That’ll bring up Zach cone with two out here in the first. Cone had a solid start to the season, hitting for the cycle against Duke in game number two. He’s cooled off as of late. While he’s hitting .373, I’d be concerned about his 11 strikeouts and his anemic .389 on-base percentage.

Seems Palazzone isn’t the only one getting beamed tonight. Cone takes one in the shoulder and he’s on his way to first.

Cone is picked off at first base. Sloppy. Just sloppy.

1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on. Siena 0 – Georgia 1.

Due up: Quaranto, DerHagopian, Balkwill

Top 2nd

Quaranto grounds one down to third base. May ranges for a good catch, but after an unnecessarily flashy spin move misfires the throw to Shipman and Quaranto settles in safely.

Seriously, was Colby May trying to be the baseball equivalent of JR Smith?

Palazzone gasses DerHagopian with a high fastball. Chalk up a K for Palazzone and out number one here in the second inning.

Palazzone is liking that high fastball early, he just missed with one upstairs to Balkwill before comign back with a beautiful heater on the outside corner. Strike out number 2.

Another beautiful slider, followed by an immaculate fastball on the inside corner and Palazzone has struck out the side here in the 2nd. Wow, the man has his “A” game here tonight.

0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on. Siena 0 – Georgia 1

Due up: Glisson, May, Z. Taylor

Bottom 2nd

Glisson chops a slow bouncer to Tedesco, the Siena hurler quickly turns and fires to first for out number 1.

Chalk up a basehit for the struggling Colby May. The returning Freshman All-American was batting .196 coming into this one. He just placed a beautiful ball beyond the reach of Paolini at second.

Zach Taylor is hit on an inside pitch from Tedesco. He’ll make his way on down to first base and Georgia has a threat building here in the 2nd.

An inside pitch lands for a questionable strike two before Moseley fans on the next offering for out number 2.

Levi Hyams gets his first at bat of the season and squanders it with a poorly placed bunt that rolls right to Tedesco on the mound for out number three.

0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on base. Siena 0 – Georgia 1.

Due up: Allen, Sawyer, Giansanti

Top 3rd

Siena has their lead off man aboard after a base hit from Allen settles in right center. Kennesaw did most of their damage on Tuesday with the first runner aboard.

Siena is playing small ball here, a well placed bunt from Sawyer rolls to Shipman at first. The Ship’s only play is a tag on the runner. Score is a sacrifice bunt, Siena has a man in scoring position.

A Giansanti grounder fires past the legs of Palazzone and makes its way on through to centerfield. Allen shows some legs in scoring from 2nd and we’re tied at 1.

Palazzone retaliates for the run by getting Fish swinging on a great series of pitches. He’s absolutely firing tonight… the curveball looks especially unhittable.

Palazzone’s 1-2 offering is skied deep into right field. Verdin settles under it just before the warning track to make out number three.

1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on base. Siena 1 – Georgia 1.
Due up: J. Taylor, Verdin, Shipman

Bottom 3rd

A screaming liner from JT settles in the glove of Paolini without incident. A quiet start to inning number 3.

Peter Verdin. I’m in love with you. First pitch, taken clear out to left-center. It wasn’t the blast that the first one was, but this one sailed a good 390 feet. Verdin’s second home run of the game, fifth of the year, and Georgia is back in the lead.

Shipman keeps the rally going with a poke up the middle for a base hit.

Cone sends some electricity through the crowd with a deep fly ball. Hudson is there at the wall to make the grab for out number 2.

The crowd is small, but its feisty here tonight. A large amount of heckling for such a kid-heavy audience. My personal favorite so far “Hey Paolini, go back to the Jersey Shore”

Glisson fires a grounder up the middle and Dan “The Situation” Paolini dives in front of it. His attempted toss from his stomach to Sawyer at short is a no go and Shipman slides in safe. It’ll be scored a basehit.

Paolini has come up favoring his shoulder. No one ever said that webgems came easy. Anyway, he’s going to rub some dirt on it and play on. Nothing a tanning bed can’t fix.

Colby May’s poor pitch selection continues, he whiffs at three straight pitches, all of them out of the strike zone.

1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on base. Siena 1 – Georgia 2.
Due up: Quaranto, DerHagopian, Balkwill

Top 4th

Quaranto starts things off with a single up the right side. Siena has the first man on for the third straight inning.

Despite some grief for his last name, DerHagopian blisters a ball to Colby at third. May can’t come up with it, and Hyams can’t grab it off the rebound either. Since I don’t think double-errors exist, this one is scored a hit. Siena has two men on with no one out.

Balkwill does some fine designated hitting by weakly flying out to Moseley at second base. Sorry, but shouldn’t your DH actually know how to hit?

Judging by the comments going on below the press box, its been a rough week at the office for a lot of folks. Nothing has beaten the Jersey Shore comment yet. I’ll let you know when someone does.

Hudson fouls one down the first base line and Shipman tracks it down like its a piece of cake (pun intended).

Palazzone works himself out of trouble by getting Allen to fly out for out number three.

0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on base. Siena 1 – Georgia 2.
Due up: Z. Taylor, Moseley, Hyams

Bottom 4th

Zach Taylor will lead it off for the Dawgs here in the 4th. Taylor is going to see a lot of time at DH this year, especially with how solidified the Bulldog outfield is.

Taylor goes down swinging. Moseley is up and he drills a ball to the gap in right center. A great play by Fish turns a surefire double in to out number 2.

Hyams becomes the third victim of Tedesco’s control tonight. He’ll take his base after being hit by a pitch. I’m surprised that no one has chased him through the outfield with a bat yet.

A good contingent out on Kudzu Hill tonight. Glad to see a crowd finally starting to form out there despite Georgia’s recent run of bad luck. Sadly, I can’t hear any of their typically humorous barbs.

Hyams is moving on the 3-2 to Taylor. JT bloops one into shallow left field. Levi wheels his way to third base. Men on the corners with 2 out for the Dawgs.

Peter Verdin stands back in. He’s seen two pitches tonight and taken both of them deep. This time, he lays down a beautiful bunt on the first pitch. Hyams comes home to score on the suicide squeeze, the throw to first puls Quaranto off the bag and Verdin is safe at first.

Shipman whips one down the first base line, past a diving Quaranto and JT will score from second base. Shipman is in safe with a double and Verdin stands 90 feet away from a score.

The hits keep coming for the Bulldogs, Cone drills one down the third base line. Verdin and Shipman will score. Cone gets caught in a run down and he’ll be tagged out by Sawyer for out number three. Sloppy baserunning again from Cone.

4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base. Siena 1 – Georgia 6.
Due up: Sawyer, Giansanti, Fish

Top 5th

Sawyer hits himself a high fly ball that settles neatly into the glove of Cone in center field. I’ll take this opportunity to mention that Georgia Tech is up huge on Maryland in the ACC Tournament. Meanwhile, Georgia waits to tip off tonight against Vandy… stay here at WUOG for Eric Bowman’s coverage of it (if he can get his computer to work).

Back to back singles from Snooki and J-Wowww. I mean, Giansanti and Fish, have Siena in a rally position again in the 5th.

Paolini’s grounder is mishandled by May at 3rd. Not only can Colby not seem to get a hit, his glove is giving him a hard time out in the field tonight. We’ve got loaded bases with one out thanks to the error by Colby.

By the way, I’m aware that Siena is located in upstate New York and not in New Jersey. I also know that the Jersey Shore cast is composed of non-Newr Jersey residents (mainly because your typical New Jersey resident is too ugly to photograph).

Quaranto has himself his third hit of the night with a shot down the first base line. Shipman can’t nab it and two runs will score as the ball rolls into right field. Paolini makes it around to third. Men on the corners with only one out.

Hyams calls off May to make the catch on a DerHagopian flyball. Out number 2.

The score by Giansanti is considered unearned as he would have been out on the fielders choice by May. Small consolation for Palazzone, who has had to work hard here in this inning. It’ll probably be his last.

A fly ball out to center field is no problem for Zach Cone. That’s out number three, and Georgia gets out without any more damage.

2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 2 left on base. Siena 3  - Georgia 6.
Due up: Glisson, May, Z. Taylor

Bottom 5th

Glisson leads things off with a seeing eye grounder. Thats the first time Georgia has put the lead off man aboard. He gets himself a steal and moves on down to second. Runner in scoring position with no one out.

A deep fly to right field from Colby settles in for the first out. Glisson makes the tag and barely beats the throw down to third. It wasn’t scored a sacrifice, but Georgia has a man 90 feet away with one out nonetheless.

Zach Taylor with a nice ground ball through the right side of the infield. Glisson will come home to score and Georgia now has a 7-3 lead here tonight.

That’ll lead to a pitching change for Siena. Now coming in will be Ryan Poplowski. He’s a lefthanded sophomore out of North Syracuse, NY.

Todd Hankins will come in as a pinch-hitter to replace Moseley. Hankins is a righty, so the move makes sense from that stand point. What a good move it was, Hankins rips a line drive through the gap that nearly clips a running Taylor. Taylor hustles to third while Hankins will mosey in to second on the throw.

The final line for Tedesco: 4.1 IP, 7 R, 11 H, 2 K, 3 hit batsmen

Hyams fouls off a bunt attempt with two strikes. He’ll be charged with a strikeout and we’ve got two away here.

JT steps in 0-2 on the night. If he draws a walk a lucky fan will have a shot at $5,000 bucks with a Verdin grand slam. Hope that guy wasn’t counting his money early, Taylor fans for the third out.

1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on base. Siena 3 – Georgia 7.
Due up: Hudson, Allen, Sawyer

Top 6th

Pitching change for the Dawgs. Chase Hawkins checks in. The sophomore lefty 0-1 on the year with a 4.35 ERA through 10.1 innings pitched.

The final line for Palazzone. 5 IP, 3 runs, 2 earned, 8 hits, 4 srikeouts, and no walks. For a team that needed a good outing from its starter, that a’int too shabby.

Hudson quickly flies out for out number 1. Allen counters with a shallow blooper that lands in center for a base hit.

Sawyer grounds one to May, who fields and throws on to Hankins at 2nd. The turn is juuuuust a bit late and Georgia narrowly misses the double play. Still, Georgia has two out with Giansanti coming up to the plate.

Colby’s D has come back. An absolute web gem of a play to end the inning. He stretches to pluck the ball off the line, turns and fires to a great stretch by Shipman for the out.

0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on base. Siena 3 – Georgia 7.
Due up: Verdin, Shipman, Cone

Bottom 6th

Verdin swings at the first pitch again. This time it misses and he’ll be forced to see a second offering. What a monster night so far, 2 home runs, 3 rbi, and a bunt single.

Add in a double off the left field wall for the sophomore. Another absolute rope. He’s a triple away from the cycle.

Shipman flew on well out to left field and narrowly made the catch. Verdin was already at third, luckily Hudson bobbled the exchange and Peter was able to hustle back on to second.

Colby pokes out a single and Cone will wheel his way around to score from second. Georgia is now up 9-3.

AND we’re in a rain delay folks. Don’t worry, I’ll try and find a way to entertain you.

A stolen base for Verdin and Cone has a chance to rack up another RBI as his teammate stands just 90 feet away. He rips a ball off the glove of a leaping Sawyer and Verdin comes in to make it 8-3 Georgia.

Cone grabs himself a stolen base as he slides in to second. He’s been thrown out at first and second so far tonight. Lets see how he manages to get tagged out at third.

Zach wants no piece of the fly ball to left field, he’ll stay put at second. That throw out cycle is looking a lot more difficult to attain at this point.

Colby rips a single through the right side and Zach will come around to score from second. Georgia takes a 9-3 lead.

We’re got a rain delay folks. I’ll update you with more when I get word. Right now the rain is picking up and the satellites don’t show a lot of relief on the way.

The tarp has been taken off. Once the grounds crew dries the field we’ll be back under way.

Bottom 6th (ctd.)

We’re back in the action here in Athens. Lots of changes to report. Giansanti moves from right field to third base. Dan Pendleton, the right hander, comes in to pitch for Siena.

So far, everything is the same for the Gerogia line up, except for a new pitcher.

Zach Taylor grounds a chopper to the pitcher, Pendleton, and Georgia is through their half of the 6th.

2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on base, and heck of a rain delay. Siena 3 – Georgia 9.

Top 7th

Malcom Clappsaddle is on to pitch for the Dawgs. A good outing by Hawkins, just one hit in an inning of work. Clapsaddle has only made two appearances this season, looks like some mop up duty here.

Fish strikes out swinging to start the inning. Clapsaddle is working quickly. Thank God.

Malcom gets Paolini whiffing for out number two. In an ideal world the remainder of this game takes less time than the rain delay did (58 minutes to those of you that care).

Quaranto stands in working on a 3-3 day. the first baseman has 2 RBI from a big base hit back in the fifth. He is a looming lefty as he stands in the box.

Quaranto hits a stinging grounder to first, Shipman is there to get the put out. Dawgs get out of the 7th with no trouble what so ever.

0 runs, 0 errors, 0 errors, 0 left on base. Siena 3 – Georgia 9.
Due up: Hankins, Hyams, J. Taylor

Bottom 7th

Hankins starts things with a foul out to third. I’m praying that Georgia swings at every pitch and gets us out of here before dawn.

Hyams draws a walk, maybe he can teach Colby how to take a pitch. Georgia has a man on with only one out.

JT stands in and drills a ball to Allen at 2nd base (thats right he’s swapped with Paolini… the coach of Siena just wants to be a jerk to this lone soul liveblogging up in the booth). Anyway, Allen fires and gets Taylor at first, Hyams advances to second.

For once Peter doesn’t make a huge hit. He flies out quietly to center. I do mean quietly, there is absolutely no one left.

0 hits, 0 runs, 0 errors, 1 left on base. Siena 3 – Georgia 9.
Due up: DerHagopien, Balkwell, Hudson

Top 8th

Carson Schilling will be the new Georgia backstop. He’s one of three catchers Georgia has used this year.

DerHagopian got out, somehow. Not really paying attention there. Kyle Barbato is now in the game to pinch hit for Balkwill. He gets to first via a base hit.

Siena is set to break Stetson’s season record for changes in an inning. They’ve got Andy Carucci pinch hitting for Hudson and playing left field. He hits a sharp grounder to short. Hyams flips to Hankins for one, but Shipman drops the throw at first and Georgia winds up with a fielders choice.

Allen stands in, he’s now at second.

Now is as good a time as ever to mention that with their bright green helmets, Siena looks like Gazoo out of the Flinstones cartoon.

Allen grounds out to Hankins at second and the top half of the 8th is complete.

0 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on base. Siena 3 – Georgia 9.
Due up: Shipman, Cone, Schilling

Bottom 8th

Shipman starts with a long fly to left field and Cone quickly follows with a shallow pop out to second base. Schilling fans to end the inning. I’m three outs away from freedom.

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base. Siena 3 – Georgia 9.
Due up: a nice warm bed

Top 9th

Another pinch hitter for Siena, William Cardona stands in for Sawyer. He’ll face the looming right hander Cecil Tanner.

When the weather warms up Tanner will be hitting the high 90s with his fastball. Sadly, he can’t keep anything over the plate.

He issues a walk to Cardona. Stento will pinch hit for Giansanti (I feel like I’m live blogging Italy in the WBC). He lines one up the middle, a surefire double play ball but Tanner oafishly sticks his glove in the way, knocking it down and ruining any shot of getting either man.

Gasapo stands in as a pinch hitter for Siena. aaaaaand he walks. We’re gonna be here a while. Bases loaded with no one out.

Paolini stands in and he is sat down on three straight strikes. Looks like the umps want out of here too. Al Williams is next, and Tanner sits him down on three straight pitches as well.

I’ll say this about the Diesel, whe he’s good, he’s good. When he’s bad, he’s really bad.

Grounder to Tanner. He fields and fires a wild one to Shipman, but Georgia holds on and this one is over. Losing streak snapped and my night mercifully brought to a close. Now I can call my wonderfully patient girlfriend on the phone.

Georgia wins 9-3.

Overall, Georgia looked a lot better tonight than they did earlier this week against Kennesaw. The reason for that goes to Michael Palazzone. His 5 inning outing provided a semblance of stability and kept Siena from leaping out early against the Dawgs like so many other teams have.

What else can be said about Peter Verdin, two homers on two pitches. Add to that an RBI bunt and a double and you’ve got a 4-5 night with three runs batted in. Talking to him after the game, he mentioned the extra film work he’s done in an effort to change his mechanics and get back on track.

Kudos to Coach Perno for laying down the law with this team this week. He was unnerved by the embarrassing loss to Kennesaw and according to Verdin, he was in the ear of every player. “It may not have been something that I wanted to hear, but it’s the truth and it was important that I knew it.”

While its just one win, its a sign of positive direction. Georgia still had some short comings defensively and Colby May still swings at anything that moves, but Georgia scrapped together runs and the pitchers shut down Siena when it counted. The Saints are the type of team Georgia can use to “get right.” They’ll have to do so soon, Georgia Tech and SEC play loom on the horizon.