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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Rich Poythress’ RBI double in the top of the 10th inning broke a 2-2 tie as Georgia scored two runs in the ninth and two more in the tenth to upend Vanderbilt 4-2 in front of 3,284 fans Saturday afternoon at Hawkins Field.
The Bulldogs snapped the Commodores six-game winning streak to improve to 32-17-1 overall and 18-7-1 in Southeastern Conference play. VU dropped to 37-14 and 15-10 in league action. They are now three games back of conference leader UGA with four games to play.
Georgia trailed 2-0 heading into the ninth before tying it up with two runs. Bryce Massanari singled off of reliever Drew Hayes to lead off the inning. Lyle Allen followed with a bloop single to left center to get the tying run on board. Brett Jacobson came on in relief and got Robbie O’Bryan to line out for the first out of the inning. Joey Lewis singled off of Jacobson’s hand to load the bases. Miles Starr grounded to third and Pedro Alvarez touched third for the second out and threw to first to try and end the game with a double play. The ball was low, however, and got past Brad French allowing the runner at first to advance to third. The runner at third scored in the process to make it 2-1. Ryan Peisel then singled up the middle with two outs to tie the game at 2-2.
Russell Brewer came on in relief in the 10th after pitching 2.2 innings last night and gave up a single to Gordon Beckham to start the inning. Poythress then doubled down the left field line to score Beckham to give UGA the lead. Mark Lamm came on in relief and balked Poythress to third and Lyle Allen hit a sacrifice fly to left to score the fourth run.
Joshua Fields came on in the bottom half and walked Brad French to lead off the frame. David Macias lined out to right and Dominic de la Osa struck out before Pedro Alvarez walked to get the tying run on base. Ryan Flaherty struck out swinging to end the game.
“Going into the ninth with a two-run lead, you are just not safe against a good hitting team like Georgia,” said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin. “We just didn’t finish the game.”
Dean Weaver (4-1) pitched a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts to pick up the win with Fields earning his 14th save of the year.
Russell Brewer was charged with two runs to take his first loss of the year to drop to 4-1.
David Macias and Alex Feinberg both had two hits to lead VU, while Peisel and Beckham paced Georgia with two hits also.
Caleb Cotham threw seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts and three walks and gave up just three hits.
“Today I probably had the best command of my fastball I have had all year,” said Cotham. “Also being able to throw my slider for strikes right off the bat really helped out a lot.”
Pedro Alvarez hit a solo homer in the fourth to give the Commodores a 1-0 lead. It was his sixth homer of the year and first at home this season. Ryan Flaherty singled and moved to third on a single by Alex Feinberg, before scoring on Shea Robin’s sacrifice fly to left to make it 2-0.
The Commodores and Bulldogs will play the rubber game of the three-game set Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. VU will send junior right-hander Nick Christiani to the hill, while UGA will throw junior left-hander Nathan Moreau.
Georgia 000 000 002 2 – 4 9 1
Vanderbilt 000 200 000 0 – 2 7 2
Dodson, McCree (8), Weaver (9), Fields (10) and Massanari. Cotham, Hayes (8), Jacobson (9), Goodenow (9), Brewer (10), Lamm (10) and Robin. W-Weaver 4-1, L- Brewer 4-1. Sv-None. HR: UGA: None VU: Alvarez (6)
