MaconDawg says Georgia baseball is like locust swarms; namely, an every-other-year phenomenon. I have argued that the Diamond Dogs’ seasons are like "Star Trek" movies: the even-numbered ones are good and the odd-numbered ones are bad. Clearly, the Classic City Canines have rebounded from their dismal 2007 campaign, clinching the S.E.C. championship and claiming a No. 7 national ranking, but their only bit of unfinished business was with in-state rival Georgia Tech, as the Yellow Jackets managed to hammer the Red and Black both in their house and in ours.

At stake on Tuesday evening, therefore, was Georgia’s ability to salvage some small sliver of the regular-season series with a Ramblin’ Wreck squad which was projected on April 30 to face the Diamond Dogs in the Athens Regional. With Nick Montgomery making his first career start, the Red and Black pulled out the win.

Montgomery retired the first batter he faced in the top of the initial inning but conceded a base on balls to Jeff Rowland. After striking out Luke Murton, the Bulldog hurler threw the wild pitch that allowed the Golden Tornado center fielder to advance to second. This enabled a Derek Dietrich single to plate a run before Tony Plagman became the frame’s second strikeout victim.

The Red and Black had a reply in the home half of the canto, which Ryan Peisel led off with a solo home run off of Deck McGuire. After the next two Classic City Canines flied out in succession, Rich Poythress doubled to right field and took third on a base hit from Bryce Massanari, but Lyle Allen flied out to strand the go-ahead run 90 feet shy of paydirt.

Golden Tornado shortstop Derek Dietrich went one for four on Tuesday night with a strikeout and an R.B.I., which really isn’t all that bad for an actress whose film career basically ended with "Judgment at Nuremberg" in 1961.

Although Montgomery plunked Brad Feltes to put a man aboard at the outset of the second stanza, Thomas Nichols took strike three and Chris House grounded into a double play to conclude the visitors’ half of the inning. Following the strikeout by Joey Lewis which began the bottom of the frame, Matt Cerione dropped a double into center field and came around to score on a David Thoms single before Peisel grounded into an inning-ending double play.

The Yellow Jackets went three up and three down in the top of the third canto, but, in the bottom of the stanza, Gordon Beckham drew a one-out walk and took second on a Poythress single. After Massanari walked to load the bases, though, Allen struck out and Lewis grounded out to squander a golden opportunity.

Georgia Tech failed to produce a baserunner in the visitors’ half of the fourth frame and McGuire likewise retired the side in the bottom of the inning. Montgomery allowed a two-out double to House in the top of the fifth canto, but Jason Haniger flied out to strand the tying run in scoring position.

After Matt Olson grounded out to begin the bottom of the stanza, Beckham and Poythress collected consecutive singles. When Massanari subsequently reached on a fielder’s choice, the Georgia first baseman was put out at second, but the Red and Black shortstop scored to make it 3-1 for the nominal home team. Adam Fuller went down swinging to conclude the canto.

Georgia Tech second baseman Thomas Nichols struck out twice and went hitless in four at-bats, which is pretty compelling evidence for the proposition that she should have stuck to playing Lieutenant Uhura.

Alex McRee took over on the mound to start the top of the sixth frame and he immediately allowed a leadoff single to Charlie Blackmon and walked Rowland. The Bulldog reliever then induced Murton to hit into a fielder’s choice, but an error by Thoms permitted the Ramblin’ Wreck right fielder to score. Dietrich grounded out to advance Murton to second and Plagman singled to move him over to third, but the Georgia Tech first baseman was thrown out at second to strand the tying run.

Cerione drew a one-out walk in the home half of the inning and Thoms singled to right field to set the stage for the base hit by Peisel that brought the Georgia center fielder around, but Cerione was thrown out at home. Olson then went down swinging to strand two. McRee retired the Golden Tornado in sequence in the top of the seventh stanza on a strikeout, a groundout, and a flyout.

Andrew Robinson came on in relief of McGuire in the home half of the canto and promptly obtained two of the requisite three outs before giving up a double to Massanari, which came to naught when Fuller went down swinging. The pitching duties fell to Dean Weaver in the top of the eighth inning and the latest Georgia hurler struck out Haniger, conceded a base hit to Blackmon, and struck out Rowland.

After the Georgia Tech right fielder swiped second base, Weaver walked Murton, but he then coaxed the strikeout from Dietrich which ended the frame. Brad Rulon took over on the mound in the home half of the canto and began by striking out Jake Crane and Cerione in succession. Miles Starr then popped up to bring matters to a close.

Ramblin’ Wreck center fielder Jeff Rowland drew two walks, but was held without a hit, so her night at Turner Field doubtless was much less fun for her than the Academy Award ceremony at which she won an Oscar for "Gloria."

Because the Diamond Dogs held only a one-run lead, Joshua Fields felt no need to make matters more dramatic than necessary. In the top of the ninth inning, the Red and Black closer coaxed a groundout from Plagman, struck out Feltes, and struck out Nichols to put the victory in the books.

The contest was a good deal more nerve-wracking than it needed to be; the Diamond Dogs out-hit the Yellow Jackets by an 11-5 margin, yet the Classic City Canines only won by a 3-2 final. Although Ryan Peisel, Rich Poythress, Bryce Massanari, and David Thoms went nine for 14 with a walk and a home run, they only collected three R.B.I. between them.

In his first career start, Nick Montgomery performed well, going five innings while striking out three, walking one, surrendering two hits, and giving up one earned run. The bullpen then proceeded to go four frames, striking out six, walking two, allowing three hits, and conceding no earned runs.

At the end of the day, it was just good to get the win to keep alive the Diamond Dogs’ hopes of earning a top eight national seed for the N.C.A.A. tournament. (By the way, if you happen to think I’m being overly cruel to Georgia Tech by comparing the Institute’s baseball players to women, you truly have no idea how much worse we in Bulldog Nation could mock the Yellow Jacket faithful.)

Go ‘Dawgs!

Before we get started, I should call your attention to BCDawg97’s FanPost on the Swindle Industries Charity Bowl, which challenges us all to support our team while doing our bit for a worthy cause. While I believe donations to the United Methodist Committee on Relief should count toward a team’s total, I will not quibble, but I will encourage you to put your fandom to good use in this cause.

Provided that you didn’t spend Mother’s Day weekend living under a rock or in a Tibet, you are aware by now that David Perno’s Diamond Dogs had a good weekend in Nashville. Following Sunday afternoon’s action around the league, the Southeastern Conference standings look like this:

With the S.E.C. tournament scheduled to begin on Wednesday, May 21, next weekend’s season-ending series are slated to begin on Thursday instead of Friday. These are this week’s match-ups, although I hesitate to call this a weekend baseball rooting guide, since Georgia’s status atop the conference is secure, irrespective of what other teams do.

"Talk amongst yourselves. I’ll give you a topic: the weekend baseball rooting guide involves neither rooting nor the weekend. Discuss."

Arkansas at Mississippi State: Believe it or not, this one actually matters. The Classic City Canines have secured the No. 1 seed and will face the No. 8 seed in the first round at Hoover’s Regions Park. Whichever team wins the Western Division will be seeded second and the six remaining teams will be seeded by winning percentage without regard to division. Had the season ended on Sunday, the Razorbacks’ .500 record in conference play would have earned the Hogs the No. 8 seed, as shown by Jim From Duluth’s chart, which was linked to by Quinton McDawg. Four teams are a half-game ahead of Arkansas in the standings, so Arkansas could move up, stay put, or drop out, depending upon the performances of the quartet of teams with 14-13 conference records. The Gamecocks, the Plainsmen, and the Volunteers all could overtake the Razorbacks for the last spot in the tournament and, hence, the opening-round game against the Classic City Canines.

Tennessee at South Carolina: These two teams are fighting for the chance to get to Hoover. The winner of this series is not assured of getting in, but the loser is guaranteed to stay home. This is the only S.E.C. series of the week in which neither participant currently is among the top eight teams in the conference standings, so this could be meaningless . . . but it could be of considerable importance, as the Palmetto State Poultry are a half-game in back of current would-be No. 8 seed Arkansas, so it is quite possible that Georgia could draw South Carolina in the first round.

Louisiana State at Auburn: There is no hotter team in the S.E.C. right now than L.S.U. The Bayou Bengals have won twelve straight games and they will secure the No. 2 tournament seed if they win the Western Division, in which the Fighting Tigers hold a one-and-a-half-game edge over Alabama and Ole Miss. Since a Louisiana State stumble could open the door for the Crimson Tide, the Rebels, or even the Razorbacks to steal the division title and, with it, the second seed, the Tigers’ continued good fortunes are quite consequential. If L.S.U. wins out and both top seeds perform up to expectations in Hoover, the Diamond Dogs and the Bayou Bengals could meet up in the fifteenth and final game of the conference tourney.

I, for one, am not anxious to see this again anytime soon.

Ole Miss at Kentucky: The Rebels and the Wildcats are two of the four teams tied with 14-13 league ledgers. Where more than two teams are tied, the first tiebreaker is total won-lost record in games played among the tied teams. Right now, Kentucky would be seeded fourth by virtue of the Bat Cats’ 5-1 record against Alabama and Florida, whereas Mississippi would be seeded seventh due to the Rebs’ 2-4 ledger against those same opponents. The Crimson Tide and the Gators both have gone 4-5 against Kentucky, Ole Miss, and one another, with ‘Bama earning the fifth seed due to the Tide’s 2-1 series victory over U.F. last weekend. Confused? You won’t be after this week’s episode of "Soap," but, in the meantime, just know that the Rebels, who have as much incentive to excel as any of the four currently tied teams, could greatly improve their seeding, especially if they secure the sweep. An Ole Miss leap from seventh to second is not outside the realm of possibility.

Vanderbilt at Florida: Here’s an interesting point to ponder . . . if the top-seeded Diamond Dogs win their first-round S.E.C. tournament match-up, their outing on Thursday, May 22, will be against the winner of the Wednesday collision between the fourth- and fifth-seeded squads; if the Red and Black lose on the first day, they will meet the loser of the No.-4-v.-No.-5 clash on Thursday. The Commodores currently would be seeded third and the Gators presently would be seeded sixth. Given the logjam in the middle of the league standings, it is not impossible that the Saurians, playing at home, could inch up a notch and/or knock the ‘Dores down a peg in the pecking order. In other words, Georgia could face one of these two teams in the second round in Hoover.

Go ‘Dawgs!

After losing on Friday and winning on Saturday, the Diamond Dogs came into Sunday’s series-settling outing at Vanderbilt knowing that everything was on the line. With the opportunity before them to clinch the conference crown, the Red and Black managed to outduel the hard-charging Commodores, although the deciding contest was not without its share of drama.

The initial inning got off to a promising start when Ryan Peisel led off the top of the frame with a base hit up the middle, but the Georgia third baseman was thrown out at second on Matt Olson’s ensuing first-pitch single. Gordon Beckham sent Nick Christiani’s very next pitch into right field for a flyout and Rich Poythress struck out to strand the Bulldog right fielder.

Nathan Moreau elicited strikeouts from the first two Vandy batters he faced in the bottom of the canto, but Pedro Alvarez sent the first pitch he saw down the right field line for a double and Ryan Flaherty drew a walk immediately thereafter. Fortunately, Alex Feinberg struck out to prevent either baserunner from making additional headway.

The visitors’ half of the second stanza began with the fielding error by Alvarez that allowed Bryce Massanari to reach base safely. A base hit by Lyle Allen and a flyout from Joey Lewis moved the Red and Black designated hitter as far as third, so, when Matt Cerione reached on a fielder’s choice, Massanari scored an unearned run. Miles Starr’s subsequent double brought two more home before Peisel singled to plate the Bulldog second baseman. After an Olson double advanced Peisel as far as third, Beckham sent the sacrifice fly to left field which scored the Georgia third baseman.

I’m pretty sure I’m not ruining the surprise for anyone by letting you know that these T-shirts are available for a reason.

A first-pitch double by Poythress brought Olson the rest of the way around and brought Massanari up to bat for the second time in the inning. He struck out to conclude a six-run, five-hit, one-error canto and bring the home team to the plate for the bottom of the stanza. Undaunted by the Diamond Dogs’ early outburst, Shea Robin led off with a double down the left field line and, after Andrew Giobbi flied out, Steven Liddle returned a single up the middle to plate the Commodore catcher.

A base hit by Brad French followed by a wild pitch from Moreau put runners at second and third, enabling David Macias to score a run with a single down the left field line. The Vanderbilt center fielder was thrown out at second, so only one ‘Dore was aboard when Dominic de la Osa drove a home run to left field. Alvarez’s ensuing groundout wrapped up a five-hit, four-run frame.

The Classic City Canines came right back in the top of the third canto, commencing with Allen’s leadoff single to left field on a payoff pitch. After the Georgia left fielder stole second and Lewis struck out, Cerione smacked a two-run shot to right field. The next two Bulldog batters registered outs, but the visitors had gone out in front by an 8-4 margin.

The Commies went three up and three down in the bottom of the inning, as did the Red and Black in the top of the fourth frame. Moreau’s first pitch in the home half of the stanza was returned up the middle by Giobbi for a base hit, but the next three Vanderbilt batters were unable to advance him. A first-pitch single by Massanari to open the visitors’ half of the fifth canto likewise went to waste when Allen lined into a double play and Lewis struck out to conclude the proceedings.

Vanderbilt designated hitter Andrew Giobbi went one for four on Sunday and failed to drive in a run, but he remains a fan favorite for such works as "Madonna and Child Enthroned" (circa 1310).

Following a home half of the frame in which the Commodores managed only to sandwich an Alvarez single in the midst of a trio of flyouts, the top of the sixth stanza got underway with a Cerione single to left center field. Starr’s first-pitch bunt attempt produced the fielder’s choice that saw Cerione put out at second before Peisel returned the first pitch thrown his way for a base hit.

The Commies then switched pitchers and Taylor Hill’s second throw to home plate was driven to right field by Olson for the home run that made the score 11-4. A subsequent Beckham single came to naught, as Poythress went down swinging and the Georgia shortstop was cut down at second. The home team squandered a leadoff double by Robin in the bottom of the inning, as the next three batters generated only outs.

Chase Reid came on to pitch the visitors’ half of the seventh stanza for Vanderbilt and he began his stay on the mound by giving up a base hit to Massanari. Allen successfully put down a first-pitch bunt to put two men aboard for Robbie O’Bryan, who singled through the right side to load the bases. Cerione singled up the middle to score Massanari, but Starr flied out and Peisel grounded into a double play to prevent the Diamond Dogs from extending their advantage.

The Red and Black turned the pitching duties over to Justin Grimm to start the home half of the frame and he extracted outs from the first two batters he faced before conceding a triple to Alvarez and a first-pitch R.B.I. single to Flaherty. Feinberg thereafter grounded out to prevent additional damage from being done.

Georgia relief pitcher Justin Grimm had a rough couple of innings, in which he gave up four hits, one walk, and four earned runs to the ten batters he faced. In his defense, however, his ball control actually isn’t bad for a guy whose hands are made of orange rocks.

A two-out walk by Poythress in the top of the eighth inning appeared likely to yield another run when Adam Fuller doubled down the right field line in the next at-bat, but Allen’s first-pitch flyout stranded the Georgia first baseman at third. The Diamond Dogs’ failure to take maximum advantage of their scoring opportunities in the game’s late frames opened the door for the home team, which got its comeback attempt underway with a leadoff walk issued to Robin in the bottom of the canto.

Even though Giobbi lined out, Liddle sent the first pitch he saw into left center field for a base hit and French grounded out to advance both baserunners and bring the top of the order back up to the plate. A base hit by Macias scored a pair of runs and brought Dean Weaver to the mound, but the Bulldog reliever’s first pitch to de la Osa produced a run-scoring double and the single subsequently surrendered to Alvarez plated one more. By the time Flaherty struck out, the Commies’ four-hit, four-run frame had closed the gap to 12-9.

Mark Lamm became the fourth and final Vanderbilt hurler of the day at the outset of the visitors’ half of the ninth stanza and he got the inning underway by giving up a base hit to Jake Crane. The Red and Black catcher swiped second after Cerione popped up and he took third on Starr’s sacrifice bunt, but Peisel then grounded out to strand an insurance run 90 feet from home plate.

That brought the home team to the plate and Joshua Fields to the mound for the bottom of the ninth canto, which was as predictable as it was nerve-wracking. Jonathan White popped up on a payoff pitch and Robin flied out to center field. With the ‘Dores down to their final out, Fields walked Giobbi on four straight pitches, allowed the Vandy designated hitter to advance to second, and gave up an R.B.I. single to Liddle. French came up to the plate representing the tying run and, like clockwork, Fields struck him out on an 0-2 pitch.

Second verse, same as the first.

Inherent in the nature of being a baseball fan is a temperamental inclination to view the glass as half-empty; as noted by the late major league baseball commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti, the sport whose professional season begins with the verdant rebirth of spring and ends with the withering away of autumn is "meant to break your heart." So, it would seem, is the case with Sunday’s game, in which the Diamond Dogs held an 11-4 lead after six stanzas before suffering a power outage and being outscored to the tune of 6-1 in the final three frames.

That is not how I choose to see it. The Classic City Canines undeniably allowed ten runs on 16 hits, but Nathan Moreau went six innings and held the opposition scoreless for five of them. After the 29 pitches thrown by Justin Grimm produced no strikeouts, a walk, and four earned runs, Dean Weaver and Joshua Fields combined to throw 29 pitches of their own, which yielded two strikeouts, one walk, and a pair of earned runs.

While the partial bullpen breakdown is cause for concern, it is hard to complain about a Georgia effort that produced 20 hits. The Commodores not only committed more errors (1-0), they left more men on base (8-7), and the Red and Black got solid production out of Ryan Peisel (3 for 6, 1 R.B.I.), Matt Olson (3 for 5, 3 R.B.I.), Bryce Massanari (2 for 4), Lyle Allen (3 for 5), and Matt Cerione (3 for 5, 3 R.B.I.).

The Diamond Dogs found a way to win a defensive struggle on Saturday afternoon then they turned right around and found a way to win a slugfest on Sunday afternoon. Georgia’s starting pitchers went deep into the game on both days and, despite losing the initial outing of the series, the Red and Black came roaring back to claim victory in the series. With three conference games remaining and a league ledger of 19-7-1, the Classic City Canines could break the school record for S.E.C. victories and they have clinched the conference championship. As is appropriate on Pentecost Sunday, the team that showed the greater spirit was the one wearing red.

Go ‘Dawgs!

Friday was rather stressful in Bulldog Nation; all of us here at Dawg Sports spent the day learning to operate the upgraded system (with a few predictable glitches, which we are in the process of correcting and for which your patience is appreciated greatly) and the Diamond Dogs opened their critical three-game series in Nashville by losing a six-run decision to the Commodores.

The first day of the rest of your weekend was not wholly without its redeeming characteristics, however, as Florida lost a one-run game on Friday night and so did South Carolina. These setbacks dropped the Gamecocks and Gators alike to 13-12 in conference play, keeping them both four and a half games behind Georgia (17-7-1) heading into Saturday’s action. With five S.E.C. games remaining for each squad following Friday’s contests, that essentially meant that, barring a complete collapse, the division crown (and, with it, the league title) would come down to a two-way race between the Classic City Canines and the Music City Sailors (15-9).

After Friday evening’s outing, David Perno explained why he left his starter in as long as he did: "Our relief pitching has been limping a bit lately, and so we want to lean on our starters more." Coach Perno had a point, inasmuch as the Red and Black surrendered seven or more runs in eight of the 14 games played between April 15 and May 9, going 2-5-1 in those eight outings while posting a 6-0 record in the other six.

The starter upon whom Coach Perno hoped to lean on Saturday was Stephen Dodson, who put his 5-2 record and 3.88 earned run average on the line against Caleb Cotham, the redshirt freshman who was to be found on the mound in the top of the initial inning. Cotham retired the side on a flyout, a groundout, and a strikeout, after which Dodson took the hill in the home half of the canto and generated a lineout with his first pitch to David Macias. Dominic de la Osa grounded out before Pedro Alvarez also produced a first-pitch lineout to conclude a hitless first frame.

Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez went one for four in the second game of the series, which isn’t going to win him many votes.

All the Diamond Dogs had to show for the top of the second stanza were a strikeout, a groundout, and a flyout, but, after Ryan Flaherty flied out on a payoff pitch at the outset of the bottom of the frame, an error by Gordon Beckham enabled Alex Feinberg to reach base safely. A first-pitch groundout by Shea Robin moved the Commodore second baseman to his accustomed spot on the field, but Andrew Giobbi’s ensuing groundout stranded the baserunner in scoring position.

The visitors’ half of the third canto commenced with a leadoff walk drawn by Robbie O’Bryan on a payoff pitch, which Matt Cerione followed up with a first-pitch single to right field. David Thoms hit into a fielder’s choice on the next pitch and Cerione subsequently was picked off, so, after Ryan Peisel walked, Matt Olson ended the scoring threat with a flyout.

Dodson’s first two pitches in the home half of the stanza each produced outs and de la Osa flied out to end the inning after Macias doubled to right field. Beckham led off the top of the fourth frame with a base hit and, after the first pitch thrown to Rich Poythress produced an out, Bryce Massanari was plunked to put two men aboard. Although Lyle Allen’s ensuing groundout advanced both baserunners, O’Bryan grounded out to strand what would have been the first run of the game at third base.

Consequently, the contest’s first run was scored by Alvarez, who turned the first pitch of the home half of the inning into a home run. Flaherty and Feinberg followed that up with consecutive singles, enabling Robin to bring another run home with a sacrifice fly to left field. The next two Music City Sailors registered outs to conclude a three-hit, two-run canto.

Commodore shortstop Ryan Flaherty went one for four on Saturday and recorded the final out of the game, reminding us once again why he isn’t the player he was when he was the deputy mayor of New York City.

Peisel collected a first-pitch single in the top of the fifth stanza after two outs already were away, but, although Olson thereafter walked on four straight pitches, Beckham struck out on a payoff pitch to strand both baserunners. The Commies went three up and three down in the bottom of the frame. No Diamond Dog made it as far as first base in the visitors’ half of the sixth canto and a one-out walk by Flaherty in the bottom of the inning was canceled out when Feinberg grounded into a double play.

After the three Bulldog batters in the top of the seventh stanza lined out, struck out, and flied out in sequence, Robin led off the bottom of the frame with a base hit. The Vandy catcher advanced to second on a wild pitch after Giobbi struck out and he took third on a first-pitch groundout by Steven Liddle, but Brad French’s ensuing groundout stranded Robin 90 feet from home plate.

An error by Alvarez in the top of the eighth inning allowed Beckham to reach base with two men out, but Poythress grounded out to leave him there. Alex McRee took the mound in the home half of the canto and immediately surrendered a base hit to Macias and a walk to de la Osa. However, the Georgia reliever thereafter extracted a lineout from Alvarez and coaxed a double-play groundout from Flaherty to keep the score 2-0.

The Diamond Dogs at long last undertook to do something about that in the top of the ninth frame, beginning with Massanari’s first-pitch single to center field to lead off the stanza. Adam Fuller replaced the Georgia catcher on the basepaths and the Red and Black pinch runner took second on an Allen single. After O’Bryan lined out, Joey Lewis loaded the bases with a single. Miles Starr reached on the fielder’s choice that scored Fuller then Peisel tied the game with a base hit.

Usually, a guy is more likely to get a tie on Father’s Day weekend than on Mother’s Day weekend, but I’ll take it.

Although Olson reached on the fielder’s choice that ended the four-hit, two-run inning, the Classic City Canines’ heroics in the top of the canto proved adequate when Dean Weaver, after surrendering a first-pitch single to Feinberg in the home half of the frame, garnered outs from the next three Vanderbilt batters to force additional stanzas.

Beckham began the top of the tenth inning with a base hit and Poythress promptly brought him home with the double that gave the Diamond Dogs their first lead of the afternoon. This brought Mark Lamm to the mound as the sixth and final Commie hurler of the day and the ‘Dore closer balked the Georgia first baseman over to third before striking out Fuller.

After Allen’s ensuing sacrifice fly plated Poythress, O’Bryan was thrown out at first to bring Joshua Fields to the mound for the home half of the frame. Since Georgia held a two-run lead, striking out the first three Vandy batters in order would have been inadequately dramatic, so, naturally, the Bulldog closer began the stanza by walking French on four straight pitches.

Fields let Macias work the count full before inducing him to fly out and, after persuading de la Osa to chase strike three, the Red and Black hurler walked Alvarez to bring the winning run to the plate in the form of Flaherty. Fields, of course, struck him out to cap the dramatic come-from-behind victory that extended the Classic City Canines’ division lead once more to three games.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Joshua Fields forever.

Coach Perno hit the nail on the head in his postgame comments after Friday night’s debacle: Georgia needed strong innings from the starter to take the pressure off of the bullpen and that’s exactly what the Red and Black got from Stephen Dodson, who worked seven solid innings while allowing five hits and two earned runs. This enabled the three relievers to work one inning apiece and Alex McRee, Dean Weaver, and Joshua Fields responded with a trio of scoreless cantos in which the Bulldog hurlers struck out four and gave up just a pair of hits.

The results are evident in the box score, as David Macias’s two-for-five afternoon and Alex Feinberg’s two-for-four outing included no R.B.I. by either Vanderbilt hitter; in fact, the first five batters in the Commodore order batted in just one run between them. Meanwhile, despite Matt Olson’s hitless performance on Saturday, the trio of Ryan Peisel, Gordon Beckham, and Rich Poythress combined to go five for 14 with two R.B.I. and a walk. It wasn’t much, but it was timely and it was enough.

The Diamond Dogs notched their 18th conference win to give themselves some breathing room in the division race. With four S.E.C. outings remaining on the slate, the Classic City Canines have the opportunity to match the school record for victories in league play, which was set by the 2001 team that won the conference with a 20-10 mark.

While there was some satisfaction to be taken in South Carolina’s loss to Arkansas in the second game of their series, such scoreboard-watching has become superfluous; events have rendered such results as Florida’s win over Alabama ultimately inconsequential. The Red and Black will leave the Music City on Sunday afternoon in sole possession of first place in the S.E.C. East, but a win tomorrow would clinch a conference crown.

Go ‘Dawgs!

The Diamond Dogs found themselves in Nashville on Friday night for the first game of a crucial S.E.C. series with Vanderbilt. The Red and Black entered the outing owning a three-game lead in the Eastern Division over the second-place Commodores, secure in the knowledge that one weekend win would go a long way toward deciding the conference race and two victories would secure a championship.

Mike Minor was on the hill in the visitors’ half of the first frame and he got the game underway by extracting a first-pitch groundout from Ryan Peisel and sneaking a called third strike past Matt Olson before walking Gordon Beckham on a payoff pitch. The Georgia shortstop was then picked off at first to conclude the canto.

Trevor Holder gave up a leadoff walk to David Macias in the bottom of the inning and, after the next two Commodores flied out to right field in succession, Ryan Flaherty punched a single through the left side to advance the Vandy center fielder to second. Alex Feinberg struck out on a payoff pitch to strand both baserunners.

The top of the second stanza started with a first-pitch single to right field by Rich Poythress. Following a Bryce Massanari flyout, Lyle Allen singled down the right field line to advance the Bulldog first baseman to third and Joey Lewis brought him home with a sacrifice fly. Although Allen was caught stealing and picked off, the Red and Black still had drawn first blood.

via images.amazon.com

(Insert obligatory Sylvester Stallone reference here.)

The Music City Sailors did not allow their guests to enjoy the lead for long, however. Andrew Giobbi delivered a one-out first-pitch single to center field in the home half of the canto and Steven Liddle sent Holder’s next pitch through the left side to advance the baserunner. The bases were loaded when Brad French was plunked, allowing Macias to plate a pair of runs with a double.

After a Dominic de la Osa triple brought home two more, Pedro Alvarez registered an R.B.I. and an out when he was thrown out at first while the Commodore right fielder crossed home plate. Flaherty grounded out on the very next pitch to close out a four-hit, five-run frame for the home team.

David Thoms’s one-out single in the top of the third inning was negated when Peisel grounded into a double play and Vanderbilt was retired in sequence in the bottom of the canto on a groundout, a lineout, and a flyout. A two-out double by Poythress went for naught in the visitors’ half of the fourth frame when Massanari struck out looking, whereas the ‘Dores went three up and three down in the home half of the stanza.

Allen led off the top of the fifth inning with a base hit up the middle and Lewis followed that up with a home run to left field to cut the Commodores’ lead to 5-3. The next two Diamond Dogs struck out in sequence, but Peisel and Olson collected consecutive base hits to keep the frame alive until Beckham flied out on a payoff pitch. A one-out walk by Alvarez in the bottom of the canto was squandered when Flaherty sent a double-play ball to short.

via www.geocities.com

Ryan Flaherty failed to bat in a run and his costly error allowed the go-ahead run to cross home plate in the seventh inning, proving once again why he was such a poor substitute for Joe Coffey during the declining final seasons of "Hill Street Blues."

Poythress worked the count full before popping up to start the visitors’ half of the sixth stanza. When Massanari thereafter walked and Allen sent a first-pitch single through the right side, Minor’s evening was done and Chase Reid was sent to extract outs from the next two Georgia batters. This he did, causing the Classic City Canines to strand the tying run at first base.

The Music City Sailors, no doubt knowing the contest was tightening up for them, undertook to pad their advantage in the home half of the frame. Feinberg got the proceedings underway with a base hit and Shea Robin singled in the ensuing at-bat, as well. After the Vanderbilt second baseman was caught stealing, Giobbi grounded out to move the Commie catcher to third. A Liddle single scored Robin before French flied out, leaving the Diamond Dogs with a narrow 9-8 edge in hits but the ‘Dores with a 6-3 lead in runs.

The Red and Black set about altering both of those statistical relationships in the top of the seventh canto, in which Peisel sent a one-out single up the middle. Olson smacked a payoff pitch into right field for a double and Beckham’s subsequent single plated a couple of runs. No sooner had Steven Schwartz been brought on to replace Reid than Poythress sent the Vanderbilt reliever’s first pitch to right center field to bring home the tying run.

Following the fielding error by Flaherty that enabled Massanari to reach base safely, Allen put a first-pitch single into right field to bring Poythress around to score an unearned run. Schwartz was then pulled after five pitches, none of them strikes, and Russell Brewer came on to strike out Lewis and Matt Cerione to put a five-hit, four-run, one-error canto in the books.

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May the Schwartz be with you!

Holder returned to the hill in the home half of the stanza with the Diamond Dogs holding a 7-6 lead in runs and a 14-8 advantage in hits. He promptly threw two strikes to Macias before giving up a single to the Vanderbilt center fielder then gave up the home run to de la Osa that gave the Commodores an 8-7 edge. The Georgia starter thereafter plunked Alvarez, surrendered a single to Flaherty, and saw his first pitch to Feinberg knocked through the right side for the base hit that plated another run.

At that point, Steve Esmonde succeeded Holder on the mound and his first toss to home plate was turned into an R.B.I. groundout by Robin. Although Flaherty scored on the play, Feinberg was thrown out at third, enabling Esmonde’s second pitch to produce the Giobbi groundout that ended a four-hit, four-run inning to narrow the visitors’ edge in hits to 14-12 and, much more importantly, permit the home team to reclaim a 10-7 lead in runs.

All four Bulldog batters in the top of the eighth frame concluded their respective plate appearances on 1-2 pitches; unfortunately, although Olson turned his into a base hit, his three teammates turned theirs into strikeouts. When Esmonde allowed a one-out first-pitch single up the middle to French in the home half of the inning, a pitching switch brought Justin Earls in from the bullpen just in time for him to give up a two-run shot to left field to Macias.

Earls got ahead of de la Osa 0-2 before plunking the Vanderbilt right fielder, who proceeded to swipe second and come around to score when Alvarez singled up the middle on another 0-2 pitch to give both teams 15 hits and lengthen the Commodores’ lead in runs to 13-7. Mercifully, the next two Music City Sailors registered outs to end a three-hit, three-run inning.

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Thomas McClary had three R.B.I. and, although Walter Orange was limited to a single hit, Lionel Richie absolutely killed our bullpen!

Poythress gave the Classic City Canines hope by leading off the top of the ninth canto with a double, but Massanari struck out, Allen flied out, and Robbie O’Bryan struck out in the next three at-bats as part of the disaster’s denouement. In the end, the Red and Black out-hit their hosts (16-15), but Georgia surrendered eight runs in the last three innings to doom their cause.

The Commodores were able to score runs in bunches thanks to productive days from David Macias (3 for 4, 1 home run, 1 walk, 4 R.B.I.), Dominic de la Osa (2 for 4, 1 home run, 1 stolen base, 4 R.B.I.), Pedro Alvarez (1 for 3, 1 walk, 2 R.B.I.), Ryan Flaherty (2 for 5), Alex Feinberg (2 for 5, 1 R.B.I.), and even Steven Liddle (2 for 4, 1 R.B.I.).

While not without their own production from Ryan Peisel (2 for 5), Matt Olson (3 for 5), Gordon Beckham (1 for 4, 1 walk, 1 R.B.I.), Rich Poythress (4 for 5, 1 R.B.I.), Lyle Allen (4 for 5, 1 R.B.I.), and Joey Lewis (1 for 3, 1 home run, 3 R.B.I.), the Classic City Canines could not overcome the performance of their ordinarily reliable pitching staff, which failed in every facet, striking out just four of 41 opposing batters, plunking three and coughing up 15 hits and 13 earned runs.

Between Wednesday night’s outing and Friday night’s, the Diamond Dogs have allowed 30 hits and 24 runs in the last 17 innings. That, taken together with the Red and Black’s 4-5-1 ledger in the squad’s last ten contests, suggests that a Georgia squad which played five games per week for six straight weeks is dog tired heading into the stretch run. The timing of this apparent fade is terrible, but the Classic City Canines will have a chance to reclaim their three-game lead over Vanderbilt on Saturday, when a win will be absolutely critical. 

Go ‘Dawgs!

Earlier today, I indicated that I did not mean to minimize the importance of this evening's game against Georgia Tech, in spite of the fact that the Diamond Dogs had a much more significant series to which to look forward this weekend. Even so, though, the midweek contest was consequential for Georgia solely because the in-state rival Yellow Jackets were the opponent, and for absolutely no other reason whatsoever, but that incentive to perform well did not prevent the visitors from notching an 11-1 victory.

Charlie Blackmon led off the top of the first inning with a base hit off of Will Harvil and, after Jeff Rowland struck out, Luke Murton was plunked to move the Ramblin' Wreck right fielder to second. A Derek Dietrich single scored Blackmon before the next two Yellow Jackets recorded outs to end a frame in which the visitors took a 1-0 lead. Deck McGuire retired the Red and Black in order in the bottom of the canto.

Chase Burnette put a one-out single into center field in the visitors' half of the second stanza and no sooner had the Georgia Tech left fielder swiped second than Cole Leonida was hit by a pitch. Fortunately, Blackmon grounded into the double play that prevented the Golden Tornado from plating another run. The Classic City Canines had only a strikeout, a groundout, and a lineout to show for the home half of the inning.

Murton drove a one-out home run to left field to give Georgia Tech a 2-0 edge in the top of the third frame, prompting a Georgia pitching switch from Harvil to Alex McRee. The new Bulldog hurler immediately surrendered a base hit to Dietrich, but he extracted strikeouts from the next two batters. No Classic City Canine made it as far as first base in the bottom of the canto.

Just kick back and relax, buddy; in fact, why don't you take the night off?

Although Thomas Nichols led off the fourth stanza with a single, the next three batters amassed only outs to bring the home team back up to bat in the bottom of the inning. Matt Olson broke up the no-hitter by dropping a one-out double into center field and, after Gordon Beckham stared at a called third strike, Rich Poythress doubled to center field, as well, to make it a one-run game. Bryce Massanari grounded out to bring matters to a close.

The hurling duties devolved upon Justin Grimm in the top of the fifth frame and the Georgia reliever walked Rowland to get the inning underway. A Murton single moved the Ramblin' Wreck center fielder over to third and, when Dietrich reached on a fielder's choice, Rowland was thrown out at home. After Tony Plagman flied out, Brad Feltes knocked a base hit to left field to score a pair of runs. By the time Nichols popped up, the visitors had assumed a 4-1 lead.

Lyle Allen began the bottom of the frame with a single to right field and Robbie O'Bryan grounded out to move him over to second, but the next two Diamond Dogs to enter the batter's box went down swinging. The sixth stanza commenced with another Red and Black pitching change, as Steve Esmonde took over on the mound and promptly secured the first two outs of the inning. The third proved more elusive.

Blackmon and Rowland registered consecutive singles, the latter of which coincided with an error by Esmonde, resulting in a Georgia Tech score. Murton doubled to center field to bring home another run and an error by Ryan Peisel permitted Dietrich to reach first base and another run to cross home plate. When Plagman singled to right field to advance the Georgia Tech shortstop to third, Esmonde's evening was done and Nick Montgomery was sent on in his stead.

At this point, we could have sent in Elizabeth Montgomery and it wouldn't have made much of a difference.

After the latest Georgia hurler induced Feltes to fly out to right field, the Red and Black went three up and three down in the home half of the canto. The first two batters in the top of the seventh inning struck out looking before Leonida walked and Blackmon sent a two-run shot to center field to make it 9-1. Rowland stared at a called third strike, as well, to conclude the stanza.

The first two Red and Black batters in the home half of the canto flied out, but Allen belted a base hit to center field and Joey Lewis was hit by a pitch before Adam Fuller grounded out to keep the score unchanged. Justin Earls was on the mound to begin the top of the eighth frame and he recorded a pair of outs before giving up a single to Plagman and a home run to Feltes. Nichols grounded out in the next at-bat, but, by that time, Georgia Tech held an 11-1 lead.

McGuire finally called it a night after seven stanzas, giving way to Andrew Robinson in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Classic City Canines went three up and three down against the Yellow Jacket reliever. After Chris House walked and Leonida struck out looking in the top of the ninth canto, Dean Weaver succeeded Earls on the hill and extracted outs from each of the two ensuing batters.

Taylor Wood got in on the act for Georgia Tech in the bottom of the final frame, taking over the pitching responsibilities in time to surrender a leadoff single to Beckham. The Georgia shortstop took second on a wild pitch and, after Poythress flied out to left field, Jake Crane grounded out to move Beckham over to third. Allen was hit by a pitch before Lewis struck out swinging to put this calamitous contest out of its misery.

The end.

My attitude has always been that, if you're going to lose anyway, you might as well lose a blowout. That way, there is less room for second-guessing, recriminations, and wondering what if. Last fall, the South Carolina loss nagged at me for far longer than the Tennessee loss, because the former easily could have gone the other way, while the latter was a lost cause from the get-go.

So it was with Wednesday night's bludgeoning at the hands of the Yellow Jackets. The visitors out-hit the home team by a 15-5 margin and played errorless baseball. Deck McGuire remained in the game for seven strong innings, facing 26 batters, tallying nine strikeouts, issuing no walks, allowing four hits, and surrendering one earned run. The bullpen followed that up with two scoreless innings in which the relievers struck out two, walked none, and conceded one hit.

The Ramblin' Wreck enjoyed strong performances by Charlie Blackmon (3 for 5, 2 R.B.I.), Derek Dietrich (2 for 5, 1 R.B.I.), Brad Feltes (2 for 5, 4 R.B.I.), Luke Murton (3 for 4, 2 R.B.I.), and Tony Plagman (2 for 5), while Lyle Allen was the lone Diamond Dog to have a multi-hit day. At the top of the order, Ryan Peisel, Matt Olson, Gordon Beckham, Rich Poythress, and Bryce Massanari combined to go three for 19 with one R.B.I. and six strikeouts.

It was a bad outing against a decent team and there is nothing to do but tip your cap to Georgia Tech, put it in your rear view mirror, and be glad our former star quarterback who played while he was one of multiple academically ineligible athletes didn't just resign his position with his alma mater when, after one week on the job, he was arrested for driving under the influence, possession of marijuana, having an open container, and hit and run immediately after Cinco de Mayo. Friday is the first day of the rest of Georgia's season and every bit of the sting will be taken out of this ugly loss by a win in Nashville two nights hence.

Go 'Dawgs!

(Note: The following look at the Diamond Dogs' upcoming matchup against Vanderbilt was compiled using numbers through Sunday afternoon's outings. The Commodores had a Tuesday night game against Memphis, but that contest against a team Georgia faced in a three-game series earlier in the year was not included in the calculations that follow. Please pardon the omission.)

While I by no means intend to minimize the importance of tonight's showdown with Georgia Tech, the fact is that the Bulldogs have bigger fish to fry this weekend, when the Red and Black journey to Nashville for a clash of nationally-ranked teams in a conference showdown that could end with David Perno's squad bringing an S.E.C. East crown back from the Music City to the Classic City. Due to the importance of the series, the question must be asked: "Who are the Commodores?"

Not those Commodores, smart-aleck.

Georgia and Vandy have compiled identical 20-7 home records, which would be daunting for the Red and Black had they not carded a 10-6-1 mark in road games. At 9-3 against the Eastern Division and 15-9 over top 25 teams, the Classic City Canines come into this weekend's series with confidence, hoping to take advantage of the 4-7 ledger against ranked opponents tallied by a Commodore club that won 15 of 18 games between April 8 and May 4.

In the course of completing a regular-season sweep of the Volunteers for the second straight year, Vanderbilt's Dominic de la Osa tallied his 284th career hit and his 62nd career double, setting school records in both categories. Pedro Alvarez is coming off of his seventh multi-hit game this spring and Shea Robin established a new personal best last Sunday by hitting two home runs in one game.

Ryan Flaherty, who has started all 47 of the Commies' games in 2008, has driven in 50 runs during the campaign while drawing a team-high 33 walks. Pitchers Caleb Cotham, Nick Christiani, and Mike Minor all have E.R.A.s of 4.00 or below and each has notched at least five wins. Minor has two complete games to his credit.

As Quinton McDawg noted, the Diamond Dogs were given some bad news this week: Michael Demperio was lost for the year following a collision with the Rebels' Matt Smith on Sunday. Either Miles Starr or David Thoms will take over for him in the Georgia second baseman's absence.

How significant is the injury to Demperio? While, obviously, we wish him well for a speedy and complete recovery, we hope that his teammates will be as capable of compensating for his absence from the lineup as Suzanne Yoculan's Gym Dogs were when they claimed the national championship following the season-ending injury to Courtney Kupets.

Who knows? With a little luck, something along these lines might be available for the Diamond Dogs in a couple of months!

There is some comfort to be drawn from this fact: Georgia cannot lose the S.E.C. championship in Nashville, but the Bulldogs can win it there. Since the current conference standings give the Red and Black a three-game edge over the 'Dores, even a sweep by the home team would leave the two Eastern Division frontrunners tied, with the Classic City Canines wrapping up the season at home against an Alabama squad that sits at .500 in league play and the Music City Sailors capping off the campaign with a road trip to Gainesville to face the only S.E.C. team to have claimed a series victory over the Diamond Dogs this spring.

Even one win by Georgia over Vanderbilt would enable the Red and Black to retain a two-game division lead over the Commodores with three games remaining; Vandy wouldn't be out of it altogether, but they'd have a tough row to hoe. If the Classic City Canines take two out of three in Nashville, that's the ballgame.

Florida and South Carolina trail the Bulldogs by four and a half games, so the Gamecocks and the Gators could sweep their remaining conference outings to get to 19-11 in league play, but a pair of Georgia victories this weekend would guarantee the division leaders of no worse than a 19-10-1 conference finish. If the 'Dores drop two out of three to the Red and Black in their next S.E.C. series, Vanderbilt will fall to 15-11 in the league and will be unable to catch the frontrunners.

A sweep would be gravy, but it would also be greedy, and no one who has followed this Commodore club could possibly believe that even a Georgia squad this good could notch three victories on the road against Vandy. The key is simply not to get swept. One win probably is all the Diamond Dogs need; if they turn two, you can stick a fork in this race, because it is done.

Go 'Dawgs!

Baseball season is about to shift into high gear. The nationally-ranked Diamond Dogs have a huge week ahead of them. After losing to Georgia Tech in Atlanta earlier in the season, the Red and Black will host the Yellow Jackets on Wednesday before traveling to Nashville for a crucial three-game S.E.C. series with the second-place Commodores.

Here are the current conference standings:

While we're pulling for the Classic City Canines against the Music City Sailors, though, for whom else should Bulldog Nation be cheering? Here are the Georgia faithful's recommended baseball leanings for this edition of your weekend baseball rooting guide:

Kentucky at Tennessee: This series, like the details of Dr. Evil's life, is quite inconsequential. The Volunteers and the Wildcats are tied for last place in the East and both teams are six and a half games out of first place with six games to go. It is mathematically impossible for either team to overtake the Bulldogs in the standings. You are free to root as you wish, or to declare this the S.E.C. series of disinterest.

Auburn at Ole Miss: Likewise, this three-game set has no bearing on anything of importance for the Red and Black. However, I root against Auburn on general principle.

I hate Auburn.

South Carolina at Arkansas: The Gamecocks are not yet out of the Eastern Division race, so the choice is clear. Since the Razorbacks pose no threat to Georgia, we want the Hogs to sweep the Palmetto State Poultry.

Mississippi State at Louisiana State: With all due respect to the beleaguered Ron Polk, it is in Georgia's interests for the Fighting Tigers to win all three games against the Western Division Bulldogs. L.S.U. has a half-game lead over the Crimson Tide in their half of the conference, so we want the Bayou Bengals to run away with the division in order to remove Alabama's hopes of clinching the West against Georgia on the season's final weekend.

Sorry, Ron.

Florida at Alabama: Ingrained contempt for the Gators notwithstanding, this one is a little tricky. On the one hand, we want the Saurians removed from the equation as a factor in the Eastern Division race. On the other hand, it would be useful to the Diamond Dogs to have the Red Elephants demoralized and as far out of contention as possible heading into their campaign-concluding showdown with the Classic City Canines.

Accordingly, as much as it turns my stomach to root for Florida for any reason, we want the Orange and Blue to win exactly as many games in Tuscaloosa as the Red and Black win in Nashville. That does the maximum allowable damage to Alabama without enabling the Gators to gain any ground on Georgia. Since U.F. trails the Bulldogs by four and a half games, equivalent performances by Georgia and Florida this weekend would end any possibility of the Gators catching the Diamond Dogs on the last weekend of the spring.

Go 'Dawgs!

The Diamond Dogs won on Friday and came into Sunday's game in first place in the Eastern Division with a 16-6-1 conference record that put Georgia three games in front of surging Vanderbilt and three and a half games ahead of resurgent Florida. The Rebels won on Saturday and came into Sunday's game in first place in the Western Division with a 12-11 conference record that put Ole Miss in a two-way tie with Alabama and half a game in front of an L.S.U. squad that began the day having won eight straight games since tying the Red and Black on April 20. In short, both teams had more than just an S.E.C. series victory on the line on Sunday and, in the end, the Diamond Dogs came out on top.

The contest did not begin auspiciously for the Classic City Canines, however. Although Jordan Henry lined out to lead off the visitors' half of the first inning, Nathan Moreau thereafter proceeded to surrender a single to Fuller Smith, walk Logan Power, and plunk Cody Overbeck to load the bases for Matt Smith. Nevertheless, Moreau managed to persuade the Mississippi first baseman to swing harmlessly at strike three, then the Georgia starter succeeded in sneaking a called third strike past Zach Miller to end the threat.

After the home team generated nothing in the bottom of the canto except a trio of flyouts, the Rebels came back up to bat in the top of the second stanza. While Kyle Mills led off by grounding out, Tim Ferguson sent a solo shot to left field to give Ole Miss a 2-0 advantage in hits and a 1-0 edge in runs. After Brett Basham followed that up with a base hit, Henry grounded into a double play.

Rich Poythress began the bottom of the frame on a positive note by dropping a single into center field, but the Bulldog first baseman's teammates proceeded to record two strikeouts and a flyout to strand the baserunner. Moreau issued a leadoff walk in the top of the third canto, but Power thereafter reached on the fielder's choice that cut down the lead runner and Overbeck grounded into an inning-ending double play.

The question for the bottom of the inning is, "Which Diamond Dog would you consider the least likely to hit a home run to tie the game?"

The home half of the stanza began with a Matt Cerione flyout, but Michael Demperio drove a game-tying home run to left field to put the Diamond Dogs on the board. This brought the top of the order back to the plate, but Ryan Peisel and Matt Olson were only able to produce a strikeout and a groundout, respectively.

Moreau surrendered a leadoff single in the top of the fourth frame, but the next three Rebels all recorded outs. The same was true of the first two batters in the bottom of the inning, as well, but, after Bryce Massanari drew a base on balls, Lyle Allen put one out to right field to bring home two runs. By the time Joey Lewis flied out to left field, Georgia held a 3-1 lead in runs in spite of the Red and Black's 4-3 deficit in hits.

All Ole Miss had to show for the visitors' half of the fifth canto was a walk sandwiched among a trio of flyouts, but the bottom of the inning began with a leadoff home run to center field by Cerione. This evened the hits at four apiece and gave the Diamond Dogs a 4-1 advantage on the scoreboard.

The Classic City Canines were not finished, however. Demperio collected a single in the ensuing at-bat to give the Georgia second baseman his second hit in as many at-bats from the ninth position in the lineup on Sunday afternoon. David Thoms was sent in as a pinch runner and Peisel moved him over to second with a base hit.

Trust me when I tell you that this one ends well.

Olson attempted to sacrifice both baserunners over, but an error by Ole Miss pitcher Cody Satterwhite enabled the Bulldog right fielder to reach base safely. This loaded the bases for Gordon Beckham, who watched strike three pass him by to record the first out of the inning. Poythress proceeded to fly out to right field, then Massanari registered the single that plated a pair of runs and chased Satterwhite from the mound.

Rory McKean was sent into the game to assume the hurling responsibilities and his first act upon assuming that position was to extract the strikeout from Allen that ended the Diamond Dogs' four-hit, three-run, one-error inning. Overbeck struck back in the top of the sixth stanza, as the Rebel third baseman led off the visitors' turn at the plate with a home run to left field. Moreau retired the next three Ole Miss batters to cross his path.

Robbie O'Bryan began the bottom of the canto with a base hit and, after he was replaced on the basepaths by Adam Fuller, the Red and Black pinch runner stole second. After Cerione walked and Thoms struck out swinging, Peisel sent an R.B.I. single to left field. This drove McKean from the game, as well, and the new Ole Miss pitcher surrendered the base hit to Olson that scored Cerione. The next two Bulldog batters achieved only outs to wrap up a three-hit, two-run frame.

Justin Grimm took over on the hill in the top of the seventh inning and he retired the side in sequence. Massanari walked to begin the home half of the canto and Allen followed that up with a base hit to advance the Georgia designated hitter to second. Jake Crane sacrificed both baserunners over before Cerione fouled out and Thoms struck out to squander the Diamond Dogs' opportunity to put runs on the board for the fifth consecutive frame.

What? Was it too much to ask that the team score in every inning?

As had been the case the day before, the top of the eighth stanza got a little hairy for the home team. The Ole Miss left fielder led off the inning with a base hit and Power grounded out to advance him to second. After Overbeck walked, the Rebel first baseman went down swinging. Miller then singled to right field to load the bases for Michael Hubbard, who grounded out to end the threat.

The fourth Mississippi pitcher of the game took over on the mound in the home half of the inning and immediately gave up a leadoff double to Peisel. Olson was hit by a pitch, putting two men aboard for Beckham, whose home run to left field made it 11-2. Massanari walked following a Poythress lineout and Crane singled to right field after an Allen flyout, but Cerione flied out to put a three-hit, three-run frame in the books.

Naturally, Joshua Fields was sent in to pitch the top of the ninth canto and, with so many excess runs to play with, the Bulldog closer evidently elected to toy with his victim before delivering the knockout blow. What other explanation could there be for the fact that Fields walked Ferguson and, after striking out Logan Williams, he gave up a double to Jeremy Travis?

A passed ball permitted the Rebel shortstop to score before Zach Rutland drew a base on balls. Cullan Kight's sacrifice fly brought Travis home, as well, and, at that point, Fields decided an 11-4 final would quite suffice, so he extracted a flyout from Overbeck and called it a day.

Joshua Fields is so good, he deserves to be given the medal Gerald Lambeau won in "Good Will Hunting."

What lessons might the Bulldog faithful derive from this outing, other than the obvious conclusion that, evidently, the Magnolia State has more Codys, Logans, and Zachs than any state really requires? We were reminded how this team made it into first place in, um, the first place.

On Sunday afternoon, the Diamond Dogs played errorless ball, out-hit the opposition by a 14-8 margin, and scored in five of the last six innings, pushing multiple runs across the plate four times in the final five frames. The Red and Black were productive throughout the order; not only did Georgia's first six batters (Ryan Peisel, Matt Olson, Gordon Beckham, Rich Poythress, Bryce Massanari, and Lyle Allen) collectively gather nine hits, three walks, and nine R.B.I. despite a slow start, but the home team enjoyed good days at the plate from Matt Cerione (1 for 4, 1 R.B.I., 1 walk, 2 runs) and Michael Demperio (2 for 2, 1 R.B.I., 1 run). Georgia racked up four home runs from four different players.

Nathan Moreau lasted six innings, giving up a pair of home runs and a trio of walks yet striking out four of the 25 batters he faced, surrendering just five hits and two earned runs, and pitching out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the opening stanza that threatened to change the entire complexion of the game. Justin Grimm lasted two scoreless innings, also forcing the Rebels to strand three baserunners, and, although Joshua Fields did the unthinkable by allowing an earned run, the double and the two walks he conceded were essentially harmless, as the outcome had long since ceased to be in doubt. One day after letting a game slip away, the Red and Black pitching staff shut the door, allowing only one run between the second and ninth cantos.

What was already a good day in Bulldog Nation was improved by South Carolina's series-clinching win over Florida and Louisiana State's sweep of Kentucky. The afternoon was marred only by Vanderbilt's victory over Tennessee. Sunday's results left the Classic City Canines with a league-leading 17-6-1 ledger in conference play, putting Georgia three games ahead of Vanderbilt (14-9), four and a half games ahead of Florida (13-11) and South Carolina (13-11), and six and a half games ahead of Kentucky (11-13) and Tennessee (11-13) in the division. Next weekend's trek to Nashville looms exceedingly large.

Go 'Dawgs!

After snapping their brief conference losing streak with a win over Ole Miss on Friday night, the Diamond Dogs returned to action on Saturday afternoon with the hope of clinching victory in the series to maintain, and perhaps extend, their three-and-a-half-game lead in the division. Although matters looked quite good for quite a while, a late-inning meltdown doomed the home team as the Rebels evened the series.

The starting assignment went to Stephen Dodson, who gave up a leadoff single to Jordan Henry in the initial at-bat of the first inning. Fuller Smith's ensuing groundout moved the Mississippi right fielder to second and, after Logan Power flied out, a base hit by Cody Overbeck brought Henry home. Matt Smith then struck out swinging to bring the Bulldogs up to bat with the visitors already owning a one-run advantage.

The Red and Black attempted to answer in the home half of the frame, which Ryan Peisel began by striking out, although he managed to reach base on a wild pitch to permit Matt Olson's subsequent single to advance him to second. After Gordon Beckham flied out to right field, Rich Poythress grounded out to move over both baserunners. A Bryce Massanari groundout, however, ended the threat.

Michael Hubbard sent a one-out single into center field in the top of the second stanza before Sean Stuyverson sacrificed him over to second, but a Brett Basham groundout prevented the Rebels from building on their lead. Georgia again attempted to get on the board in the bottom of the canto, commencing with Adam Fuller's one-out bunt single and ensuing stolen base.

Despite what Fuller did on the basepaths on Saturday, though, you kids need to remember that you should never steal. This has been a public service announcement from actress Winona Ryder.

After Matt Cerione struck out, the Red and Black left fielder swiped third, but Michael Demperio grounded out to strand the tying run 90 feet from home plate. Dodson surrendered a walk in the midst of a trio of flyouts in the visitors' half of the third inning and the Classic City Canines were presented with another scoring opportunity when Peisel led off the bottom of the frame with a double to left field to even the hits at three per side.

Olson grounded out to advance the Bulldog third baseman to his accustomed position and Beckham was walked intentionally to put runners at the corners. Poythress made the Rebels pay for that decision, parking a pitch over the left field wall for a three-run shot to give the Red and Black their first lead of the afternoon. This was followed by groundouts from Massanari and Joey Lewis.

Zach Miller was plunked with one out away in the top of the fourth canto, but Hubbard then lined into an inning-ending double play. Cerione drew a one-out walk in the home half of the frame and swiped second, but, after Demperio also was issued a base on balls, the Georgia center fielder was caught stealing. Peisel then was issued the third walk of the stanza by Ole Miss starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz, but Olson then hit into the fielder's choice that prevented the Diamond Dogs from building on their lead.

This afforded the Rebels an opportunity, which they exploited in the top of the fifth frame. Basham belted a one-out single to left field and Henry sacrificed him over to second. The Mississippi designated hitter likewise dropped a base hit into left field to score Basham and cut Georgia's lead to a lone run. Power thereafter flied out to conclude the canto.

Power went one for four on Saturday, which should come as no surprise, since it is well known that he is at his best only when he is teamed up with Iron Fist.

The Red and Black went three up and three down in the bottom of the inning. Overbeck was plunked to start the sixth stanza, but the next Rebel batter grounded into a double play and Miller went down swinging. The Classic City Canines produced nothing in the home half of the frame except a trio of flyouts.

The top of the seventh inning got underway with a Hubbard groundout, but Stuyverson followed that up with a single to give the visitors a 6-4 edge in hits. Basham then reached on a fielder's choice, but an error by Demperio allowed the Rebel shortstop to tie the game by scoring an unearned run. With Basham now standing on third, David Perno sent Alex McRee on to pitch for Dodson. The Georgia reliever elicited outs from the next two Mississippi batters.

Following Demperio's leadoff groundout in the home half of the canto, Peisel drove a home run to left field to narrow the visitors' advantage in hits to 6-5 and reclaim the Diamond Dogs' one-run lead. Olson's walk in the next plate appearance signaled the end of the afternoon for Pomeranz, who was pulled in favor of Scott Bittle.

Ere the Ole Miss reliever could face his first batter, the Bulldog right fielder stole second, enabling Beckham to move him over to third when the Georgia shortstop was thrown out at first. Poythress, however, stared at a called third strike to strand an insurance run only one base away. When Power led off the top of the eighth stanza by drawing a walk, Nick Montgomery was sent in to replace McRee.

"And then depression set in."

Montgomery proceeded to surrender the run-scoring double to Overbeck that tied the game. The next batter sacrificed the baserunner over to third, permitting Miller to bring home the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to left field. Hubbard singled to center field in the next at-bat. Stuyverson singled to center field in the at-bat after that. Basham followed that up with an R.B.I. double.

Unsurprisingly, this marked the end of Montgomery's tenure on the hill. Justin Earls was sent on in his stead and he immediately surrendered the double to Henry which plated another pair of runs. A wild pitch allowed the Ole Miss right fielder to move over to third and the ensuing Rebel batter brought him home with a base hit.

Power's subsequent single and an accompanying error allowed the lead runner to reach third, after which, mercifully, Tim Ferguson hit into a fielder's choice to conclude a disastrous six-run, seven-hit, one-error inning. No Diamond Dog made it out of the batter's box in the bottom of the stanza.

The Rebels added insult to injury by registering a leadoff single off of Steve Esmonde in the top of the ninth canto, but Miller reached on a fielder's choice, Hubbard struck out swinging, and Stuyverson struck out looking. It appeared at first that the Red and Black, who had substituted Robbie O'Bryan for Lewis in the eighth inning, would refuse to go quietly in the home half of the final frame, as Cerione singled to center field and was replaced on the basepaths by Miles Starr.

I don't know that he's the Beatle I'd have sent in as a pinch runner, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

David Thoms came on in place of Demperio and, after he went down swinging, Starr stole second. The top of the order then came back up to the plate, but to no avail, as Peisel struck out looking and Olson struck out swinging to end a contest the Diamond Dogs had in hand but allowed to slip away in maddeningly embarrassing fashion.

Saturday's loss was infuriating because there was so much positive about the outing for the Classic City Canines. The first four batters in the Georgia order (Ryan Peisel, Matt Olson, Gordon Beckham, and Rich Poythress) combined for four hits, two home runs, four R.B.I., three walks, a stolen base, and four runs. Stephen Dodson gave the Red and Black a quality start, facing 27 batters and plunking two, but awarding only six hits, one walk, and two earned runs. That combination of hitting and pitching ought to be enough to win you a game in which you carry the lead into the eighth inning at home.

Unfortunately, the bullpen melted down in a way it hasn't since last year's season-ending disaster. Nick Montgomery and Justin Earls combined to give up seven hits (three of which were doubles) and five earned runs to the ten batters they faced. The Bulldogs had more errors (2-0), the Rebels had more hits (14-6), Georgia stranded seven, the bottom of the Ole Miss order produced (Michael Hubbard, Sean Stuyverson, and Brett Basham between them went six for 13 and scored five runs), and that, in the end, is why the Red and Black will go into Sunday's showdown needing a win to avoid their second straight S.E.C. series loss.

The lone bit of good news to come out of the day was the report from Columbia that South Carolina defeated Florida. The Commies gained a game on the Diamond Dogs, as Vanderbilt beat Tennessee, so Georgia, at 16-6-1 in conference play, holds a three-game lead over the second-place 'Dores (13-9) while the Gators (13-10) trail by three and a half and the Gamecocks (12-11) are four and a half games in the Bulldogs' wake. It's crunch time for the Classic City Canines and, after going 2-3-1 in their last half-dozen league outings, the Red and Black desperately need a win on Sunday.

Go 'Dawgs!