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Within the first three-game weekend collection in 61 years of Georgia-Georgia Tech baseball, Bulldogs sophomore Cole Wilcox left his imprint on the rivalry’s newest chapter.
Wilcox pitched seven shutout innings en path to Georgia’s 12-Zero victory on Saturday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium. He was in full management as he utilized his fastball, which has been clocked at 100 mph, to baffle Tech hitters with 11 strikeouts.
“I used to be capable of command the fastball, and every part begins off that,” Wilcox mentioned. “Should you aren’t commanding the fastball, there may be nothing you are able to do. I used to be capable of get within the zone with that and work it out and in to have the slider and change-up go along with it.”
Tech managed two base runners within the first inning, however Wilcox rebounded to retire 20 of the following 23 batters confronted. Through the stretch, Wilcox sat down 14 consecutive Yellow Jackets, together with eight of 10 batters by way of strikeouts.
Total, Wilcox threw 67 of his 95 complete pitches for strikes. He surrendered three hits and didn’t difficulty a stroll.
Georgia coach Scott Stricklin mentioned it was Wilcox’s finest begin for the Bulldogs. He praised his younger starter after the sport.
“That’s pretty much as good as I’ve seen him,” Stricklin mentioned. “He had all three pitches working for strikes. He was throwing inside and out of doors along with his fastball. It was at 95-96 mph. He was simply actually robust to take care of as we speak.”
Wilcox’s masterful efficiency was fueled by a affected person Bulldogs lineup. This season, the staff has embraced a small-ball method that has manufactured runs.
Within the second inning, the Bulldogs took an early lead behind two bunt singles. Junior Cole Tate led off with a double and scored on Shane Marshall’s RBI single.
Later, the Bulldogs took benefit of 4 walks and two hit batters to attain eight runs within the ninth inning. Senior Cam Shepherd supplied the foremost blow along with his second-career grand slam touchdown over the left-field wall.
“We try to place as a lot strain on defenses as we will with our pitching and protection,” Stricklin mentioned. “We try to attain one run at a time if we will.”
Shepard completed 2-for-6 with 4 RBIs. He supplied the offensive load alongside junior Tucker Bradley, who hit his SEC-leading sixth house run.
“Each time we made a mistake, the place it’s making an error or making a nasty pitch, they’ve made us pay,” Tech coach Danny Corridor mentioned.
Tech sophomore Cort Roedig saved the Yellow Jackets within the sport early. He pitched Four-2/three innings and restricted the Bulldogs in spurts.
He struck out eight batters and prevented injury by way of three innings. Nevertheless, a expensive error by Austin Wilhite allowed Georgia to attain two runs within the fifth inning. The Bulldogs chased Roedig after he allowed an RBI double to junior Garrett Blaylock.
“I truthfully thought that Roedig threw it OK,” Corridor mentioned. “It was nonetheless a Four-Zero sport going into the final inning. You prefer to suppose you bought an opportunity to make a run at them someplace. We simply didn’t do it.”
The Jackets had their probabilities on the plate.
Within the sixth inning, the Jackets had a chance to chop into the deficit with runners on second and third base. With the highest of the lineup lurking, they squandered an opportunity to climb again from an early gap.
Wilcox labored to strike out junior Collin Corridor and bought Baron Radcliff to floor out to finish the risk.
“We had loads of alternatives with our guys we wish to see on the plate,” Corridor mentioned. … “We simply haven’t put sufficient balls in play.”
The missed probabilities trickled right down to the bullpen, as they struggled to carry the Bulldogs late. The unit issued seven walks that Georgia parlayed into eight runs.
Three bases-loaded walks resulted in three runs. Additionally they arrange Shephard’s grand slam that sealed Tech’s destiny.
“It’s form of been the story of the final two days,” Corridor mentioned. “Our situational hitting has not been what it must be. We simply haven’t made sufficient performs or sufficient pitches to get them out.”
Georgia improved to 10-1 with the victory in entrance of three,718 followers. The Bulldogs, who received 6-5 on Friday in Athens, clinched the collection and look to earn a collection sweep Sunday afternoon at Coolray Discipline in Lawrenceville.
Tech hopes to salvage a sport and construct momentum heading into the remainder of the season.
“We bought to deal with it prefer it’s one other sport and exit and care for enterprise,” Shepherd mentioned.
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