RECAP: Cats rally from three-run hole in ninth to beat UGA in extra innings
Kentucky's Trey Dawson hit a two-run double in the 11th inning to help give the Cats a Game 1 win in Athens, Ga.
Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated
Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated.com
@JDrumUK
Trey Dawson's two-run double in the 11th inning lifted No. 8 Kentucky to a thrilling 6-4 win over Georgia on Friday night in Athens, Ga.
The Wildcats, who trailed 4-1 entering the ninth inning, rallied to send the game into extra innings against one of the SEC's top closers.
T.J. Collett and Ben Aklinski both faced two-strike counts with two outs against Georgia's Aaron Schunk but came through with clutch hits to help UK extend the game. Collett plated one run with a double, while Aklinski tied it up with a two-run single.
In the 11th, Zeke Lewis and Ryan Johnson each drew walks to set up Dawson's game-winning smash into the left-centerfield gap off UGA's Tony Locey (6-1). Johnson had also drawn a key walk in the ninth inning and came around to score to help send the game to extra innings.
Kentucky closer Chris Machamer (2-1) held the Bulldogs at bay with three innings of scoreless relief to nail down the win. He struck out five of the nine batters he retired and lowered his season ERA to 1.71.
Sean Hjelle started for Kentucky (24-10, 6-7 SEC), allowing four runs on six hits and no walks over his eight innings on the mound.
Luke Heyer, a senior outfielder in the mix for SEC Player of the Year honors, accounted for UK's other run with an RBI single in the fourth inning.
Georgia (24-10, 8-5 SEC) got home runs from Adam Sasser and Keegan McGovern to take an early lead but was held scoreless over the final eight frames.
The Cats and Bulldogs will play a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday. Game 1 will be streamed on SECN+ and Game 2 will air on the SEC Network.
Kentucky's Trey Dawson hit a two-run double in the 11th inning to help give the Cats a Game 1 win in Athens, Ga.
Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated
Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated.com
@JDrumUK
Trey Dawson's two-run double in the 11th inning lifted No. 8 Kentucky to a thrilling 6-4 win over Georgia on Friday night in Athens, Ga.
The Wildcats, who trailed 4-1 entering the ninth inning, rallied to send the game into extra innings against one of the SEC's top closers.
T.J. Collett and Ben Aklinski both faced two-strike counts with two outs against Georgia's Aaron Schunk but came through with clutch hits to help UK extend the game. Collett plated one run with a double, while Aklinski tied it up with a two-run single.
In the 11th, Zeke Lewis and Ryan Johnson each drew walks to set up Dawson's game-winning smash into the left-centerfield gap off UGA's Tony Locey (6-1). Johnson had also drawn a key walk in the ninth inning and came around to score to help send the game to extra innings.
Kentucky closer Chris Machamer (2-1) held the Bulldogs at bay with three innings of scoreless relief to nail down the win. He struck out five of the nine batters he retired and lowered his season ERA to 1.71.
Sean Hjelle started for Kentucky (24-10, 6-7 SEC), allowing four runs on six hits and no walks over his eight innings on the mound.
Luke Heyer, a senior outfielder in the mix for SEC Player of the Year honors, accounted for UK's other run with an RBI single in the fourth inning.
Georgia (24-10, 8-5 SEC) got home runs from Adam Sasser and Keegan McGovern to take an early lead but was held scoreless over the final eight frames.
The Cats and Bulldogs will play a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday. Game 1 will be streamed on SECN+ and Game 2 will air on the SEC Network.
