Sports

The Georgia Diamond Dogs could only get through Mississippi State’s defense for one inning. But they sure made that inning count.

Brett DeLoach and Jonathan Hester hit back-to-back homers in the sixth inning, providing enough offense for Georgia to get a 4-3 victory over 24th-ra nked MSU, the fourth SEC win in a row for the Bulldogs from Athens.

After two infield singles by Kyle Farmer and Zach Cone, DeLoach brought them home with his first homer of the season. On the very next pitch from Chris Stratton (4-2), Hester hit his third round-tripper of the season over the centerfield wall. Both home runs represented the first SEC hits of the year for DeLoach and Hester.

Michael Palazzone (4-1) came within one out of his second consecutive complete game but still picked up the win. He allowed three runs on six hits and struck out three. With two outs in the ninth and the tying run on second, closer Tyler Maloof struck out Adam Frazier for his 10th save of the season and his second in as many days.

Georgia (13-14, 5-3 SEC) won a doubleheader last Sunday against LSU and defeated MSU (19-8, 4-4 SEC) last night, 4-1.

Apart from the sixth inning, Chris Stratton (4-2) was excellent for MSU. He allowed just three hits and struck out five over the first five innings, and he couldn’t really do much about the two infield hits in the sixth. However, his two worst pitches of the game were cashed in by Georgia. Overall, Stratton allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out seven before leaving the game after the sixth inning.

Georgia will look to complete the sweep tomorrow in the third game of the series at 2pm.

Final Score: Georgia 4, MSU 3

Top 9th: Georgia 4, MSU 2– Bradford flies out to deep right-center. Verdin made the running catch. Parks doubles to almost the exact same spot. Collins pops out to third. Freeman pops a foul ball behind home plate, but Stephens drops what should have been the third out. Freeman singles between second and first to get Parks home. Palazzone comes within one out of his second consecutive complete game, but Georgia goes to the bullpen for closer Tyler Maloof to try to get the final out. Freeman steals second. The tying run is in scoring position. Maloof gets Frazier swinging to end the ball game. That’s Maloof’s 10th save of the season and his second in as many games. Palazzone improves to 4-1. Georgia improves to 5-3 in the SEC.

Bottom 8th: Georgia 4, MSU 2– Statz walks Cone. Cone steals second, then takes third on Freeman’s throwing error. DeLoach goes down on a called strike three on the inside corner. MSU brings on RHP Victor Diaz with a man on third and one out. Probably a smart decision with a couple of right-handers due up for Georgia. MSU can’t afford to give up any more runs here. Hester’s check swing is called a third strike. Diaz faces just one batter before giving way to RHP Caleb Reed, the fourth pitcher MSU has used today. Powell flies out to left. Reed does his job. It’s now up to the MSU bats.

Top 8th: Georgia 4, MSU 1– Palazzone strikes out Johnson. Ogden drives a triple off the centerfield wall. Shepherd grounds out to first but brings Ogden home. Vickerson flies out to center. MSU cuts the lead to 4-2 but will need a big ninth inning.

Bottom 7th: Georgia 4, MSU 1– MSU calls to the bullpen for lefty Tim Statz. Hyams flies out to left. Welton grounds out to the pitcher. Farmer flies out to deep center. Georgia still up, 4-1, after seven.

Top 7th: Georgia 4, MSU 1– Collins flies out to right. Freeman grounds out to short. Frazier flies out to center. As easy an inning as Palazzone will ever pitch.

Bottom 6th: MSU 1, Georgia 0– Stratton gets K number seven on Welton. Farmer gets an infield hit as Ogden can’t quite finish the play. Stratton’s wild pitch sends Farmer to second. This is Georgia’s first runner in scoring position today. Cone hits an infield single to short. Runners on first and second for the Bulldogs. HOME RUN. Brett DeLoach sends a three-run shot over the leftfield wall. That’s his first homer of the year, and Georgia has taken the lead, 3-1. Also DeLoach’s first SEC hit. HOME RUN. On the very next pitch, Jonathan Hester knocks his third home run of the season to center. Powell grounds out to first. Stratton walks Stephens. Verdin strikes out on three pitches. A big inning for Georgia. They hit two home runs on two pitches to take the lead. The last time Georgia hit back-to-back home runs was last year against Furman, when Zach Cone and Colby May did it.

Top 6th: MSU 1, Georgia 0– Vickerson grounds out to short. Bradford flies out to shallow left-center. Cone tracks down a fly ball to center and makes the catch. Three and out. Georgia defense remains strong, but the offense needs some runs.

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