Following a 5-2 victory over the Jackets in Truist Park on April 15, the Bulldogs were swept in a three-game series in Nashville against No. 9 Vanderbilt and fell to No. 2 Clemson in a 3-0 road shutout, but the Diamond Dawgs got back on track with a series win over Oklahoma at Foley Field.
The team travelled back to Athens for a weekend series with the No. 14 Sooners. Oklahoma took the opening game of the series after five late runs from Georgia were not enough to overcome Oklahoma’s seven run lead.
Slate Alford’s three-run double in the bottom of the second inning led to a hot start for the Bulldogs en route to a 10-9 victory on Friday in game two, ending the team’s five-game losing streak. That victory came with plenty of drama as Oklahoma scored two runs in the seventh and eighth innings for a near comeback victory.
In the rubber match on Saturday afternoon, Georgia trailed Oklahoma 2-1 until the sixth inning when Brennan Hudson hit a three-run homer to put the Bulldogs on top. Kolby Branch and Robbie Burnett hit solo home runs in the seventh to provide enough insurance for a 6-3 win and a series victory. Leighton Finley pitched a gem on the mound, giving up just two runs through five innings while striking out seven batters.
Kyle Branch, the brother of Kolby Branch, suited up for Oklahoma this weekend as he is in his freshman year in Norman. The brothers reunited together this weekend on Foley Field, battling against each other in a top 25 matchup. The younger Branch was 2-4 with two RBIs for the Sooners on Friday night and tallied five hits for the series.
The two brothers met at second base in game one when Kyle slid into the bag while Kolby was covering it. The two collided but stood up and met each other with a smile. What a cool moment for the Branch family!
While the team certainly endured a rough patch over the last few games, this series win against the Sooners gets the Bulldogs back on track as the season moves into the month of May and towards the postseason.
Playing on the road has been a struggle for the Diamond Dawgs, losing seven straight road games. With a series against Missouri this weekend, a team who is 0-21 in conference play, this will likely get the Bulldogs back in the win column outside of the Peach State.
Georgia moves up one spot to No. 9 in the national rankings, with an overall record of 35-11. Up next, Georgia will face Kennesaw State on Tuesday night at Foley Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.