Georgia’s valiant comeback fell short in the 13th inning as the Bulldogs (15-12, 2-5) fell 10-7 to No. 21 Alabama (16-9, 5-2) on Thursday at Foley Field.
The game time of five hours, 12 minutes was the longest game (by time) in Georgia’s history.
Alabama broke through with three runs in the 13th-inning after the Tide’s Gene Wood reached on an error and later scored the go-ahead run on a triple to left.
The Bulldogs faced an early four-run deficit, but battled back to take a 7-4 lead behind Mitchell Webb’s career day. Webb hit two two-run doubles to set a career high with four RBIs and match a career high with three hits.
Alabama scored two in the seventh and one in the eighth to tie the game at 7-all and set up its 13th-inning victory.
Sophomore Bo Tucker (3-2) worked a dominant 5.1 innings to set a new career high, but was charged with the loss after allowing two unearned runs in the top of the 13th inning.
Alabama’s Matt Foster (2-2) earned the win after tallying four scoreless innings of relief with six strikeouts. The Tide’s Thomas Burrows was credited with his fifth save.
Dawg Tracks
– Georgia’s moves to 3-2 in extra innings this season, while Alabama advances to 1-0.
– Mitchell Webb’s two doubles were his third and fourth of the season. His four RBIs set a new career high, while his three-hit game also tied a career high.
– Bo Tucker’s 5.2 innings pitched were a new career high, besting his 4.1 innings on March 26 against Mississippi State.
– Keegan McGovern’s fourth-inning single extended his reached base streak to 18 straight games, Georgia’s longest of the season. His RBI in the fifth was his team-leading 23rd of the season.
– With a first-inning single, Trevor Kieboom extended his season-long hitting streak to six games.
– Michael Curry extended career highs with a six-game hit streak and 17-game on-base streak with a single in the seventh.
Stricklin Says
Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin
On tonight’s game…
“We have to turn the page, it’s a tough one to lose. Whoever lost that game it was going to be tough just because you had to use so many guys in your bullpen. They used a lot of bullpen guys too, but you’re in a lot better shape when you win that game. Our bullpen’s going to be a little short, our starters are going to have to step up and get it done.”
On Bo Tucker’s pitching…
“We had plenty of chances to win that game. Bo Tucker deserved to win, he was outstanding. I feel bad for him. He goes out there and puts up zero after zero after zero and we don’t play defense behind him and we don’t come up with a hit when we needed to. Bottom line, is they made plays in extra innings and we didn’t, so that’s why they won.”
On mounting a comeback…
“Our kids didn’t stop fighting. You’re down 4-0 against arguably the best pitcher in the league and we knocked him out and took the lead and got the momentum and they fought back. It was a good baseball game back and forth. We just didn’t make enough plays to win the game.”
So. LHP Bo Tucker
On tonight’s game…
“Any loss is bad, but to lose like that when we had a lot of chances and just didn’t execute when we needed to…We have to turn the page, it’s over and done with. We have to come out and get a win tomorrow, we can still win the series.”
On pitching a career-high 5.2 innings…
“I just took it one inning at a time. Go out there and get three outs every inning and then go on to the next one.”
So. 3B Mitchell Webb
On the length of tonight’s game…
“It’s exhausting, honestly. You just have to find a way to take it one pitch at a time and get the win. You get tired. There’s fatigue for sure, but that shouldn’t affect how you swing or think at the bat.”
On his career day at the plate…
“I felt really comfortable at the plate and was seeing the ball well. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough. We didn’t win, that’s the biggest thing. None of it really matters if we don’t win.”
Up Next
Georgia will face Alabama in game two of the series at Foley Field on Friday at 7 p.m.