“That one was weird,” Georgia shortstop Kolby Branch said, referring to the Bulldogs’ 14-9 win over Georgia State on Tuesday.
“Weird” may be an understatement for a four-hour game that featured four lead changes and 18 pitchers used collectively.
Georgia has struggled in midweek games all season, with half of its losses coming against unranked opponents between weekend series. Much of that has stemmed from the lack of a consistent fourth starter for the No. 5 team in the nation. While the Bulldogs’ primary starters, Joey Volchko and Dylan Vigue, have been strong, the back end of the rotation has been a revolving door.
On Tuesday, Zach Brown got the start but was removed in the second inning, consistent with coach Wes Johnson’s approach of treating midweek games as bullpen affairs. Kenny Ishikawa was first out of the bullpen and impressed, striking out four of the five batters he faced. His performance was an encouraging sign for Georgia, which had hoped Ishikawa would serve as its third starter before he suffered an injury in February.
“I thought it was good to get Kenny back out there,” Johnson said.
Ishikawa had appeared Sunday and lasted just one inning, but the short rest appeared to help. His role in the bullpen remains an option as the Bulldogs continue to define their rotation.
Georgia’s offense, meanwhile, was quiet early, held hitless through four innings by Georgia State starter Hunter Atkins. Outfielder Brennan Hudson sparked the lineup with a leadoff double in the fifth, followed by another double from Branch. The Bulldogs scored five runs in the inning to take the lead and added on with an RBI single from Branch in the seventh.
Joe Nottingham provided a strong outing out of the bullpen, pitching two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and no baserunners allowed. Georgia appeared in control entering the eighth inning with a three-run lead.
Teddy Brennan was called on to set up the eighth but allowed two baserunners, bringing the tying run to the plate. He was replaced by Grant Edwards.
Georgia State responded quickly. Center fielder John Beverly hit a three-run home run to right field to tie the game at six, and left fielder Adam Haber followed with another three-run homer to right, putting the Panthers ahead late.
“There was no flinch in the dugout,” Branch said. “That was really good to see.”
Georgia answered in emphatic fashion, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the eighth, highlighted by a home run from third baseman Tre Phelps — his second of the game.
“That separated the good and great kind of dugouts,” Phelps said. “We came in a great team, took what the game was giving us and got the hits we needed.”
Thomas Ellisen closed out the win for the Bulldogs, recording 1 2/3 innings and striking out two.
Georgia now turns its attention to a weekend road series against a top-five opponent in Mississippi State.
“The most important game of the year is today,” Johnson said. “Why? Because it’s the only game we’ve got.”
