The ninth-ranked Georgia baseball team lost, 1-0, in a pitchers’ duel to LIU Brooklyn Tuesday evening at Foley Field.

The Blackbirds’ junior starter Jackson Svete (1-0) threw six shutout innings, yielding two hits and striking out five batters to earn LIU Brooklyn’s first win of the season. Georgia junior starter Tim Elliot struck out six batters and gave up one hit in five innings, but surrendered the game’s only run in the fourth, which was unearned. 

The Bulldogs (6-1) couldn’t get it going with the bat, as junior third baseman Aaron Schunk owned both hits on the evening. LIU Brooklyn (1-6) had four hits on the evening including two from designated hitter Joe Mercadante.

In the fourth, the Blackbirds’ leftfielder Gregory Vaughn reached on an error by sophomore Bulldog Riley King in right field. Elliot fanned the following batter to make two outs, but Mercandle singled to right, scoring Vaughn.

The Bulldogs stranded a runner on second in the fifth inning, but their best opportunity came after Svete was replaced on the mound for LIU Brooklyn to start the seventh. Blackbirds’ reliever Alec Huertas walked the first two batters, before recording his first out on a strikeout, which was his last batter. LIU Brooklyn turned to freshman righty Nick Torres who proceeded to walk his first batter to load the bases. Torres (1 SV) settled in and induced a fielder’s choice groundout from King that nabbed a Georgia runner at home and then a foul fly-out from LJ Talley to end the Bulldog threat.

In relief, senior left-hander Adam Goodman threw a scoreless inning and junior right-hander Zac Kristofak threw three innings including six strikeouts.

Dawg Tracks 

-Junior third baseman Aaron Schunk recorded his second game with at least two hits and extended his hitting streak to three games.

-Junior RHP Tim Elliot made his fifth-career start, throwing five innings with one unearned run and five strikeouts. It goes down as his second best start behind his line last year vs. Wofford (6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 SO).

-Zac Kristofak struck out six batters in relief, tying his previous career-high of strikeouts coming out of the bullpen.

Coach’s Corner

Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin 

On the loss…

“It’s a wakeup call. We have to come back and play tomorrow. We have to face a really good team tomorrow. They got it done, LIU beat us tonight and I don’t want to take anything away from them. They played really well and we just did not. A lot of the way they played reflected through how they pitched and they made good defensive plays. They just outplayed us.”

On batting…

“We had a bad approach, that’s the bottom line. And a lot of that reflects on the pitcher, you have to tip your hat to him. He did his job, he kept us off balance. We have to make adjustment and just come back at it tomorrow.”

On playing Kennesaw State…

“It’s going to be a really nice night, about 70 degrees. We’re playing an in-state rival. They’ll bring a good crowd. They have a really good club and they’ll come hungry so we just have to be ready to play.”

Up Next 

Georgia continues mid-week play, facing Kennesaw State on Wednesday with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. at Foley Field.