The 14th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Albany Great Danes 9-1 to complete the series sweep on Sunday in front of 1,821 spectators at Foley Field.

The Bulldogs’ nine runs came on seven hits, led by a 2-for-3, three-RBI performance from redshirt-senior Josh McAllister. Senior Cory Acton picked up two hits and two RBI at the top of Georgia’s (3-0) lineup, while sophomore Fernando Gonzalez and freshman Cole Wagner also drove in two runs.

“I told the guys, good teams win series, great teams sweep,” said Georgia’s Ike Cousins head baseball coach Scott Stricklin. “That was the challenge going in today. Dylan (Ross) only gave up one run and was up to 95 MPH. I’m really excited about the talent we have on this pitching staff and the overall depth we have on this team.”

On the mound, junior right-handed pitcher Dylan Ross picked up his first win. The Statesboro, Ga., native went five innings giving up only one run on four hits – striking out six Great Danes. Albany (0-3) left-handed pitcher, Cregg Scherrer was tabbed with the loss.

The Bulldogs struck early in game three. In the first inning, graduate Cole Tate ripped a single to right-centerfield and sophomore Parks Harber reached bases on balls. The pair of Georgia runners quickly advance to second and third after a wild pitch and two batters later a passed ball scored Cole Tate from third to give the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead. 

In the top of the second Albany grabbed a couple of base runners thanks to a lead-off double by Jason Bottari and a hit by pitch. With two runners in scoring position, Ross caught Carson Dunkel swinging and got Will Binder to ground out to second, successfully working out of the jam – leaving Great Danes on base. 

After walking the first Albany batter in the third, Ross retired the next three batters he faced. In the bottom of the inning, the Bulldogs extended their lead to three thanks to a double down the right-field line by Gonzalez that cleared the bases, scoring Cole Wagner from first and McAllister from second.

The Great Danes cut into the Bulldog lead, plating one run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly to center – which saw a spectacular diving catch by redshirt-freshman Dwight Allen II. But, the Bulldogs responded in the bottom of the frame with a solo blast to left-centerfield from Cole Wagner and a two-RBI double by Acton to give Georgia a 6-1 edge.

In the bottom of the eighth, Georgia added three more runs on a three-RBI double down the left-field line by McAllister to extend the margin to eight. The Bulldogs would go on to win 9-1. Davis Rokose made his Georgia debut and proved three perfect innings of relief with two strikeouts while Michael Polk took care of the ninth.

Georgia will be back in action for a mid-week matchup with the Wofford Terriers on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at Foley Field. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m.