Daily Dawg Thread: March 07, 2024

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Daily Dawg Thread: March 07, 2024

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BSB: Georgia’s home runs drop Stetson

Kolby Branch

Georgia smashed four more home runs Wednesday for an NCAA-leading 35 on the season as it defeated Stetson 11-5 at Foley Field.

Sophomore Kolby Branch (3-for-5, 5 RBI) hit a pair of home runs including a grand slam as part of a five-run outburst to put the contest out of reach. Junior Slate Alford (3-for-5, 4 RBI) smacked a home run and notched a three-run double while sophomore Charlie Condon crushed his team-leading ninth home run of the season to start the scoring.

 

 

 

 

“It’s like a fast break offense in basketball,” said Branch of the Bulldogs lineup this season. “One person gets on, it’s just constant. Somebody’s trying to get it done, and that’s just how this team is.”

Condon, who made his first career start in centerfield, made a diving catch on a sinking liner for a highlight and then added a 454-foot home run to put Georgia in front 2-0. He drew three walks including two intentional. This season, Condon has started at third, first and all three outfield positions while ranking among the nation’s top hitters in average, home runs and slugging percentage.

 

 

 

 

https://twitter.com/BrentRollinsPhD/status/1765534831981531590

“I was excited about the way we played,” said Georgia’s Ike Cousins head baseball coach Wes Johnson. “You come out and Charlie obviously gets a good punch in. And they punch back. Their freshman hit two home runs tonight and got them off a couple really good swings on pitches that weren’t bad. We come back and punch back. That’s just where we’re at. We know every game is going to be a fight.”

Georgia improved to 12-1 behind a stellar pitching outing as six hurlers combined for 17 strikeouts and no walks. Stetson managed three home runs, two by freshman Logan Hughes to account for its scoring. The Hatters took a 4-3 lead in the fifth before Alford’s bases-clearing double put Georgia back in front 6-4. Branch’s slam extended the lead to 10-4 while Alford capped the scoring with his fifth home run of the year.

Sophomore Zach Harris (2-0) notched a win with two innings of relief while Stetson reliever Chris Shine dropped to 0-1. Georgia graduate Christian Mracna started and struck out a career-high eight in three innings.

The Bulldogs begin a four-game set with Northern Colorado. First pitch Friday will now be at 3 p.m. and be available on SECN+ and the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network.

Box Score

WBB: Kentucky defeats UGA in round one of the SEC Tournament

The No. 13 seed Georgia women’s basketball team lost in the first round of the 2024 Southeastern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament to No. 12 seed Kentucky, 62-50, on Wednesday morning at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

Javyn Nicholson capped off her Bulldog (12-18, 3-13 SEC) career with a 23-point outing, her sixth time this season with at least 20 points, to lead all scorers. The Wildcats (12-19, 4-12 SEC) forced 15 turnovers from Georgia, which they converted into 19 points. 

The Lady Bulldogs opened up with a 10-4 lead midway through the first quarter, but a trio of 3-pointers from the Wildcats gave Kentucky a 21-14 advantage heading into the second. 

Nicholson, who was named to the All-SEC Second Team earlier this week, scored 10 of the team’s 22 points in the first half. The Wildcats leaned on their scoring from outside the 3-point line and defensive rebounding to build up their largest halftime lead against an SEC opponent this season, 14 points. 

Georgia used a 12-2 run midway through the start of the second half to give the team the momentum it needed. The Lady Bulldogs got within five points of Kentucky, led by Nicholson and Taniyah Thompson combining for 10 points of the 12 points. The Lady Bulldogs outscored the Wildcats by one after shooting 7-of-14 in the quarter.

Kentucky’s defense overpowered Georgia in the final quarter of play, putting a stop to the Lady Bulldogs’ comeback efforts. 


WTennis: Aysegul Mert named SEC Freshman of the Week for the third time this season

(Photo: Georgia Sports Communications)

After going 4-0 through singles and doubles play against Missouri and Arkansas on the weekend, Aysegul Mert earned Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week honors, the SEC announced Wednesday afternoon.

The Istanbul, Turkey-native has now won the award for the third time this season.

Mert’s impact at the No. 1 doubles spot, alongside her partner Dasha Vidmanova, has continued to be a crucial element to helping the Bulldogs earn doubles point in six-consecutive matches.

Over the weekend, Mert was dominant in all four of her matches against Missouri and Arkansas.

On Friday, the No. 22 duo of Mert and Vidmanova opened up the day with a convincing 6-2 doubles victory over No. 24 Inah Canete and Mae Canete.

In singles, Mert made her season dual singles debut at the No. 5 spot. Facing off against Andrea Artimedi, Mert shined bright from start to finish en route to a 6-1, 6-2 victory, picking up her first career dual singles win.

Moving ahead to Sunday against Arkansas, Mert, alongside Vidmanova, was instrumental in helping clinch doubles point for the Bulldogs with a 6-3 win over Morgan Cross and Anet Koskel on court one.

In singles, Mert remained in the lineup for her second consecutive match, carrying over momentum from Friday to defeat Kacie Harvey 6-3, 6-2 on court five.

Following her strong performances over the weekend, Mert’s doubles tandem with Vidmanova moved up from No. 22 into the top 10 at No. 8 in the latest ITA doubles rankings. 

Mert’s Singles Results

Aysegul Mert (UGA) def. Andrea Artimedi (Missouri), 6-1 6-2

Aysegul Mert (UGA) def. Kacie Harvey (Arkansas), 6-3, 6-2

Mert’s Doubles Results

No. 22 Aysegul Mert/Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) def. No. 24 Inah Canete/Mae Canete (Missouri), 6-2

No. 22 Aysegul Mert/Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) def. Morgan Cross/Anet Koskel (Arkansas), 6-3


T&F: Christopher Morales Williams named SEC Indoor Men’s Runner of the Year

Photo: UGA Sports Communications

Morales Williams is the third Bulldog to be named the SEC Indoor Men’s Runner of the Year, including second in a row.  Elija Godwin was voted the Co-Runner of the Year last season.  Distance All-American Ian Burrell earned Georgia’s first honor of this kind in 2007.

Morales Williams, a native of Vaughan, Ontario, set facility, meet, school, Canadian and collegiate records with the fastest indoor 400m time in world history (44.49) to win the event at the SEC Indoor Championships, for which he was named the USTFCCCA National Men’s Athlete of the Week on Feb. 26.  He returned to the track in the 4x400m relay and ran a split of 44.68 on the second leg to help the Bulldogs take fifth at SECs. 

Morales Williams became the No. 6 all-time collegiate performer in the 300m after flying to a 32.47 earlier this season at the Clemson Invitational.  He also won the 400m at the Tiger Paw Invitational with a then Canadian U-23 national record 45.39.

Georgia qualifiers left on Wednesday en route for the NCAA Indoor Championships in Boston, Mass.  Morales Williams will start the meet for Georgia in the 400m semifinal at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.


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Greg is closing in on 15 years writing about and photographing UGA sports. While often wrong and/or out of focus, it has been a long, strange trip full of fun and new friends.