BASEBALL: Georgia Drops Tennessee Series Opener
Top-ranked Tennessee defeated No. 22 Georgia 5-2 Thursday in front of a crowd of 4,580 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Tennessee (44-6, 21-4 SEC) struck first on a solo home run by third baseman Trey Lipscomb to lead off the bottom of the second. It was his SEC-leading 20th blast. Georgia (32-17, 13-12 SEC) answered in the top of the third when graduate Cole Tate (3-for-3, 2 RBI) smashed a solo shot to right field for his third of the year. UT moved back ahead 2-1 in the third on an RBI-groundout by Jordan Beck. A solo home run by Blake Burke (3-fof-4, 2 RBI) in the fourth stretched the Volunteers lead to 3-1.
UT sophomore right-hander Chase Dollander improved to 7-0, providing six innings and allowing one run on three hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Bulldog junior Nolan Crisp went a career-high six innings but took the loss to fall to 1-4. He gave up three runs on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
“Nolan (Crisp) pitched well and gave us a chance to win, but it’s a tough team to score on when they don’t walk anybody,” said Georgia’s Ike Cousins head baseball coach Scott Stricklin. “Dollander was really good and then you bring (Chase) Burns out of the bullpen who has been their Friday night guy and (Redmond) Walsh is a veteran. They did a great job on the mound. They didn’t give us many opportunities. We were one swing away from tying it up in the eighth and just came up a little short.
“It was good to see Cole Tate comfortable again at the plate,” Stricklin added. “Last weekend, his timing was a little off. When you sit out three weeks (due to a stress fracture in his leg), that’s kind of normal. He had three hits tonight including a home run. It was good to see him swing the bat like that, and he made some nice plays at third base. He’s back 100 percent, and that’s a good sign for us.”
In the bottom of the seventh, Georgia looked to junior Michael Polk. Burke greeted him with a leadoff home run, his second of the night and ninth of the season. He struck out the next two Volunteers and then an error and a walk extended the frame, but he battled back to retire Beck to keep it 4-1. In the eighth, Georgia closed the gap to 4-2 off Chase Burns. Corey Collins was hit by a pitch, took second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Tate. It was Tate’s third hit of the night and he accounted for both RBI. Tate would make it to third with one out but was stranded when Burns retired Anderson. Then, UT went to Walsh who struck out pinch-hitter Cole Wagner. UT answered again in the bottom of the eighth as Polk issued back-to-back walks. The Bulldogs brought in left-hander Davis Rokose to get out of the jam.
He struck out the next two Volunteers before Evan Russell lined a run-scoring single to right for the final run of the night. Rokose ended the inning with a strikeout of Cortland Lawson. Walsh pitched a scoreless ninth for his sixth save.
The series continues Friday with first pitch set for 5:32 p.m. The game will be available on the SEC Network, and the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network.
UGA Class of 2022 Features 121 Athletes
The University of Georgia Class of 2022 will feature 121 student-athletes, who are scheduled to receive their degrees this week. The Undergraduate Ceremony will take place Friday at Sanford Stadium at 7:30 p.m., while the Graduate Ceremony takes place earlier that day in Stegeman Coliseum at 9:30 a.m.
The student-athletes set to graduate include:
Baseball:
Garrett Blaylock (Ashville, N.C., Sport Management), Garrett Brown (Manchester, Ga., Sport Management), Jackson Gowen (Folkston, Ga., Consumer Economics), Benjamin Harris (General Business), Randon Jernigan (Brunswick, Ga., Sport Management), Shane Marshall (Naples Fla., Sport Management), Tucker Maxwell (Sport Management), Joshua McAllister (Cumming, Ga., Sport Management), Robert Tyler (Sport Management)
Men’s Basketball:
Jaxon Etter (Woodstock, Ga., Real Estate), P.J. Horne (Tifton, Ga., Master’s in Nonprofit Management and Leadership)
Women’s Basketball
Maya Caldwell (Charlotte, N.C., Masters in Nonprofit Management and Leadership), Gabrielle Connally (San Antonio, Texas, Masters in Public Administration), Mikayla Coombs (Buford, Ga., Masters in Kinesiology), Jenna Staiti (Cumming, Ga., Masters in Kinesiology)
Equestrian
Taylor Burgess (Horseheads, N.Y., Communication Studies), Addy Cullum (Cayce, S.C., Economics), Kaitlin Dierks (Bothell, Wash., Management Information Systems), Kendall Gill (Leesburg, Ga., Biological Engineering), Lindsay Guynn (Berthoud, Colo., Communication Studies), Kathryn Jernick (Peconic, N.Y., Animal Science), Miller Lantis (Corunna, Mich., Biology and Nutritional Science), Sara Lewis (Washington, Ind., Biological Engineering), Hayley Mairano (Cimsbur, Conn., Psychology), Killian Mullen (Dacula, Ga., Sport Management), Jaden Olson (Parker, Colo, Risk Management and Insurance), Katie Ray (Berwyn, Pa., Human Development and Family Science), Annalise Reed (Grosse Pointe, Mich., Biological Science), Kadie Sanford (Cumming, Ga., Agribusiness), Alexa Schwartz (Boca Raton, Fla., Masters in Marketing Research), Meg Seidel (Birmingham, Ala., Agribusiness), Natalie Stoyko (The Woodlands, Texas, Marketing), Adelaide Toensing (Charlotte, Vt., Psychology)
Football
Matthew Brown (Guyton, Ga., Journalism), Owen Condon (Oklahoma City, Okla., Finance and Real Estate), JT Daniels (Irvine, Calif., Psychology), Davis Day (Management), Warren Ericson (Suwanee, Ga., Sport Management), Michael Hagerty (Hinesville, Ga., International Affairs), Chase Harof (Roswell, Ga., Risk Management & Insurance and Sport Management), Garrett Jones (Albany, Ga., Finance), Wesley Potter (Canton, Ga., Real Estate), John Staton (Atlanta, Ga., Master’s in Kinesiology), Payne Walker (Suwanee, Ga., International Affairs), Blake Watson (Roswell, Ga., Civil Engineering)
Men’s Golf
Will Kahlstorf (Watkinsville, Ga., Sport Management)
Women’s Golf
Alison Crenshaw (Suwanee, Ga., Masters in Kinesiology), Zoe Walker (Palm Desert, Calif., Real Estate)
Gymnastics
Alexa Al-Hameed (Real Estate), Rachel Bauman (Management Information Systems, Plano, Texas), Samantha Davis (Exercise and Sport Science), Rachael Lukacs (Hillsborough, N.J., Criminal Justice), Mikayla Magee (Human Development and Family Science, League City, Texas), Alyssa Perez- Lugones (Duluth, Ga., Criminal Justice), Megan Roberts (Toronto, Canada, Public Relations), Emily Schild (Huntersville, N.C., Human Development and Family Science), Abbey Ward (Winter Garden, Fla., Sociology)
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Andrew Abruzzo (Plymouth Meeting, Pa., Finance), Zachary Allen (Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Sport Management), Aaron Apel (Mechanical Engineering), Jeffrey Durmer (Atlanta, Ga., Masters in Business Analytics), Caleb Harrington (Knoxville, Tenn., Genetics), Camden Murphy (Consumer Economics), Greg Reed (Biochemical Engineering), Youssef Said (Cairo, Egypt, Electrical and Electronics Engineering), Harrison Wayner (Savannah, Ga., Communication Studies), Hudson Coldren (Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Sport Management)
Women’s Swimming and Diving
Portia Brown (Broadview Heights, Ohio, Cognitive Science), Ellie Crump (Dunwoody, Ga., Health Promotion), Ambria D’Alonzo (Hoschton, Ga., Sport Management), Callie Dickinson (Virginia Beach, Va., Exercise Science and Sport Science), Gabrielle Fa’Amausili (Auckland, New Zealand, Communication Studies), Kelliann Howell (Moultrie, Ga., Family and Consumer Science Education), Addison Kelly (Exercise and Sport Science), Dakota Luther (Austin, Texas, Communication Studies), Danielle Della Torre (Fashion Merchandising),
Soccer
Mollie Belisle (Atlanta, Ga., Masters in Kinesiology), Abby Boyan (Spring Lake, N.J., Marketing), Jocelyn Hugo (Vaughan, Ontario, Criminal Justice), Weldon Kolker (Atlanta, Ga., Communication Studies), Birdie Lombardo (Communications Studies), Dani Murguia (Cleburne, Texas, Consumer Economics), Bella Ponzi (Alexandria, Va., Civil Engineering), Emily Pulver (Atlanta, Ga., Sport Management), Morgan Smith (Buford, Ga., Human Development and Family Science), Cecily Stoute (Atlanta, Ga., Journalism), Macie Witter (Foothill Ranch, Calif., Cognitive Science)
Softball
Alexandra Cutting (Educational Psychology), Lauren Mathis (Windermere, Fla., Psychology), Jessica Morgan (Management), Mackenzie Puckett (Cairo, Ga., Biology), Savana Sikes (Douglasville, Ga., Management & Marketing), Jacquelyn Switzer (Masters in Public Administration)
Men’s Tennis
Blake Croyder (Marietta, Ga., Housing Management & Policy), Harnish Stewart (Glasgow, Scotland, Masters in Business Analytics)
Women’s Tennis
Morgan Coppoc (Tulsa, Okla., Masters in Finance Planning, Housing & Consumer Economics), Alee Harris (Huntsville, Ala., Communication Studies)
Men’s Track and Field
Quinton Burden (Atlanta, Ga., Landscape Architecture), Delano Dunkley (Black River, Jamaica, Communication Studies), Johannes Erm (Mechanical Engineering), Kyle Garland (Philadelphia, Pa., Communication Studies), Michael Hans (Masters in Landscape Architecture), Clay Pender (Winder, Ga., Finance), Jonathan Tharaldsen (Masters in Kinesiology)
Women’s Track and Field
Anna Marian Block (Athens, Ga., Journalism), Grace Clements (Bremen, Ga., Health and Physical Education), Destiny Jackson (Buford, Ga., Psychology), Nicole John (Watkinsville, Ga., Marketing), Courtney Long (Acworth, Ga., Biology Engineering), Titiana Marsh (Chester, Va., Psychology), Halle McClintock (Chagrin Falls, Ohio, Masters Elementary Education), Marisa Petit (Nutritional Sciences), Shelby Tyler (Noblesville, Ind., International Business and Economics), Jayda Woods (Social Entrepreneurship for Consumer Well-Being)
Volleyball
Mallory Hernandez (Fishers, Ind., Biology), Kaylah House (Atlanta, Ga., Journalism), Sage Naves (Agoura Hills, Calif., International Affairs), Kayla Rivera (Ventura, Calif., Consumer Economics), Claire Rothenberger (Aurora, Ill., Real Estate & Accounting), Kianna Young (Corpus Christi, Texas, Masters in Biological Engineering)
WGOLF: LoraLie Cowart Named To SEC All-Freshman team
Georgia’s LoraLie Cowart has been named to the Southeastern Conference’s All-Freshman team in balloting of the league’s women’s golf coaches, the SEC office announced on Thursday.
Cowart, who is from Carrollton, Ga., has played in five tournaments for the Bulldogs this spring after missing the fall campaign with a wrist injury. Her top performance was at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic, where she finished eighth individually in a field that featured seven of the nation’s top-20 golfers. Cowart fired a season-best 2-under 70 in the final round and was the Bulldogs’ top finisher in the Liz Murphey though she was playing for Georgia’s “B” team. Cowart led her squad to a fifth-place effort in the team field, tying No. 13 Southern California and finishing ahead of No. 11 Texas, No. 17 Arkansas and No. 22 Ole Miss in the process.
Earlier this week, Cowart helped Georgia finish third at the NCAA Albuquerque Regional and earn a spot in the field for the NCAA Championships, which will be held May 20-25 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Cowart, who was ranked No. 20 nationally when she signed with the Bulldogs, was an honorable mention member of the 2020 AJGA Rolex Junior All-America team. She was named 2021 Georgia High School Player of the Year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association after winning medalist honors at the Georgia Class 6A state tournament for Carrollton High School. Cowart also won the 2020 National High School Golf Association Invitational, leading wire-to-wire at Pinehurst Resort and birdieing her final two holes to clinch a two-stroke victory.
MBB: Director of Athletic Performance Named
Collin Crane has been named Director of Athletic Performance for Men’s Basketball, UGA Director of Strength and Conditioning Katrin Koch announced on Thursday.
“We are extremely excited to welcome coach Collin Crane and his family to Athens and to be part of the Bulldog Nation,” Koch said. “Throughout the interview process, it became apparent that Coach Crane is not just a technically proficient and multitalented strength and conditioning coach, he also challenges and empowers his student-athletes to be better leaders and teammates, not only in the weight room but on the court as well. I know Coach Crane is not only going to be a great fit for Coach Mike White and his program, but also with our entire staff in the weight room. We are excited to get to work with him.”
Crane sports 10 seasons of experience, including stints within the SEC at Mississippi State and Florida. During that span, teams with Crane on their strength and conditioning staff earned postseason bids in seven of nine possible years and averaged 22.8 wins per season.
“I would like to thank the University of Georgia administration and Coach White for the opportunity to join the men’s basketball program,” Crane said. “I think Coach White is one of the best leaders in all of college basketball. He has a great vision for the future, and I look forward to helping build the program up to its full potential. I will work relentlessly to develop our student-athletes both mentally and physically as we prepare to compete at the highest level.”
Crane has spent the past five seasons at Mississippi State, helping the Bulldogs earn postseason bids each year possible. State reached the NIT semifinals in 2018, secured an at-large bid to the 2019 NCAA Tournament, finished as NIT runner-up in 2021 and also appeared in the 2022 NIT. In addition, the Bulldogs were a lock for a postseason invitation in 2020 when they were an NCAA bubble team before the tournament.
Three Mississippi State players during Crane’s tenure were on NBA rosters during the 2021-22 season – Reggie Perry (Portland Trail Blazers), Quinndary Weatherspoon (Golden State Warriors) and Robert Woodard II (San Antonio Spurs).
Crane was one of the first strength coaches to partner with Mississippi State’s Athlete Engineering Program. The multidisciplinary research collaboration between the university’s academic and athletic departments explores human performance, processes and analysis. Since the initiative started, Crane has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed studies on various topics which include force plate analysis and wearable technology in addition to basketball shoe design and assessment.
Prior to his tenure in Starkville, Crane spent two seasons in the same capacity at Chattanooga from 2015-17. The Mocs compiled 48 victories, including a 29-6 record in 2016 en route to capturing the Southern Conference regular-season and tournament titles and earning an NCAA Tournament bid.
Crane worked with the men’s basketball, tennis and golf programs at Missouri State in 2014-15 and also spent two seasons as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Florida from 2012-14. While in Gainesville, the Gators made runs to the 2013 Elite Eight and the 2014 Final Four, and Crane organized NBA Draft training regimens for standouts such as Bradley Beal, Chandler Parsons, Eric Murphy and Patric Young. Crane’s stint at Florida was his second. While an undergraduate at Carson-Newman University, he also served as a strength and conditioning intern at Florida during the summer between his junior and senior years.
Crane played basketball collegiately at Carson-Newman, where he was a four-year starter and three-time captain. Crane ranked fifth in career starts for the Eagles when he graduated. As a senior, Crane helped Carson-Newman to a 20-8 record, the program’s first 20-win campaign in a decade. Following the season, Carson-Newman renamed the program’s leadership honor the Collin Crane Leadership Award.
A firm believer in video, strength and diet analysis, Crane is a certified specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA). In addition, he also is fully trained and certified in the Biosignature Modulation Level I program, an integrated system to track an athlete’s body composition and nutritional needs.
Crane earned his bachelor’s in Exercise Science from Carson-Newman in 2013 and his master’s in Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion from Mississippi State in 2020.
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