Pitcher Chase Adkins delivered himself a birthday gift on Sunday by pitching six scoreless innings for the Georgia baseball team en route to a 4-1 win over Mississippi State at Foley Field.

 
Georgia (22-30, 9-18 SEC) has now won consecutive SEC series against top 10 opponents after taking two of three at fourth-ranked Kentucky last weekend. This is the first time since 2008 that the Bulldogs have two straight series wins over top 10 foes as that year, the Bulldogs posted sweeps over No. 9 South Carolina and No. 9 Kentucky.
 
 
On Sunday, Georgia didn’t waste time getting on the scoreboard after a walk and stolen base from leadoff hitter Tucker Bradley in the bottom of the first. With one out, sophomore designated hitter Michael Curry launched his team-leading 10th home run of the season to leftfield staking the Bulldogs to an early 2-0 lead and chasing Mississippi State starter Jacob Billingsley who recorded just one out. MSU was cautious pitching to Curry throughout the series as he had drawn six walks up to that point in 10 plate appearances.
 
 
State (33-19, 17-10 SEC) would threaten in the fourth inning with two hits, and load the bases in the fifth, but were unable to capitalize against Adkins and the Georgia defense.
 
 
The teams would trade five consecutive scoreless frames, but it was Georgia adding two insurance runs in the seventh off of Riley Self and the SEC save leader Spencer Price. A blistering double off the centerfield wall by left-fielder Keegan McGovern and a single by second basemen L.J. Talley gave Georgia a 4-0 lead.
 
 
Freshman Tony Locey and senior Drew Moody combined for three solid innings of relief allowing just two hits. MSU would avoid a shutout, getting a sacrifice fly in the eighth as they stranded nine runners on the day.
 
 
Moody would retire State in order in the ninth inning for his second save. Georgia will be back in action at Foley Field for the final time at home this season on Tuesday against Furman with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
 
CLICK HERE for the final stats and box score from game three of the Georgia-Mississippi State series.
 
 
Dawg Tracks
 
Chase Adkins fired six shutout innings on his 22nd birthday to even his record at 6-6. It marked the second day in a row a Bulldog pitcher won on his birthday as Kevin Smith fired seven scoreless innings for a win Saturday.

Keegan McGovern’s two doubles today give him a total of 13 on the season.

Drew Moody earned his second save of the season, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings without allowing a hit.

Before the game, the Bulldogs honored a trio of seniors in pitchers Andrew Gist, Drew Moody and Shaefer Shepard.
 
 
Coach’s Corner: Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin
 
…on winning back to back series versus top-10 opponents:

“These boys have fought hard, and we’re playing our best baseball right now. To win two series against top 10 teams in a row is incredible, we really are building off what we started. These boys are fighting for a chance to play in Hoover (SEC Tournament), but next in the SEC we have to go to South Carolina so hopefully we can keep building on our momentum.”
 
 
Player Perspective: Mitchell Webb
 
“It feels great to win two back-to-back series against top ten teams. We’ve really picked up momentum and beating Kentucky last weekend shows how hard we’re working and beating Mississippi State today proves we’re playing really well right now.”