Bad inning downs Dogs
Wright State scored seven runs - six unearned - in the top of the fourth inning, leading to an 8-5 win over top-ranked Georgia at Foley Field on Tuesday.
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Georgia (19-3) had a five-game winning streak come to an end, losing for the first time in 15 home games.
"We were flat tonight," Georgia coach David Perno said. "We (sleep-walked) for five innings and then tried to come back with more intensity. There are no excuses, but we have to look ahead at Georgia Tech now."
Perno's team visits third-ranked Georgia Tech (16-3) at 7 p.m. today for a game that had a bit more luster before Tuesday.
Aside from Georgia's loss to Wright State (10-12), Tech - which had won 13 of its last 14 games - lost 10-1 to Georgia State (15-7).
Although Georgia led 2-0 after a Rich Poythress two-run home run in the first inning, Wright State jumped ahead when it took advantage of an error, a balk and two walks in the fourth, which led to a 7-2 advantage.
The big inning knocked Georgia's Chase Hawkins (2-1) out of the game after 3 1/3 innings, having allowed four runs, one earned, on four hits.
Georgia attemtped to rally, cutting it to 7-5 on a Bryce Massanari two-run homer and a solo shot by Adam Fuller.
But Wright State added an insurance run in the seventh and held Georgia scoreless in the bottom half of the inning after the Bulldogs got runners to second and third.
Wright State starter Tyler Newhart (1-0) earned the win, pitching 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on five hits. Michael Schum pitched the final 2 2/3 innings to earn his third save.
Poythress continued his torrid pace at the plate, extending his hitting streak to 12 games while going 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBIs and a walk. Fuller was 2-for-2 and Massanari was 2-for-4.
Jake Hibberd and Jeff Mercer both went 2-for-5 with two RBIs to lead Wright State.
Despite their surprising losses, tonight's game is still an occasion for Georgia and Georgia Tech's programs. This will be the highest the two teams have ever been ranked when they met.
In recent seasons, the in-state rivalry has even stretched into the postseason. Twice in the last five years, Georgia has eliminated Georgia Tech from contention in the NCAA tournament - last year in the final two games of the Athens Regional by a combined 26-6 margin.
The two teams are scheduled to meet twice more this season: April 14 in Athens and May 12 at Turner Field.
TODAY
No. 1 Georgia at No. 3 Georgia Tech Atlanta
7 p.m. (CSS)
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