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Athens, GA -- Georgia senior Mickey Westphal notched his third career complete game, all coming this season, as he blanked Sacred Heart 11-0 to give the Bulldogs an NCAA opening round win Saturday.
The seventh-ranked Bulldogs (42-19) now face Florida State in a winner’s bracket game at 7 p.m. Saturday (SUN/FSN-TV). The Pioneers, who were making their NCAA Division I Regional debut, dropped to 26-29. They face Jacksonville in an elimination game Saturday at 3 p.m.
Georgia took a 1-0 lead in the first on back-to-back doubles from Jonathan Wyatt and Joey Side off Pioneer starter Jay Monti. In the second, the Bulldogs went up 2-0 when Bobby Felmy singled to right, advanced to second on a balk, and scored on a single up the middle from Ryan Peisel.
In the fifth, Georgia added five runs on four hits to go up 7-0 and chase Monti who dropped 8-5, allowing seven runs on eight hits. Wyatt reached when Pioneer catcher Bobby McKee dropped a pop-up and was followed by a double by Side. Gordon Beckham (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) then drew a walk to load the bases. After Monti retired Morris and Felmy, Jason Jacobs delivered a three-run double down the left field line. Sophomore Matt Olson followed with his first career home run to cap the scoring.
In the sixth, Beckham added a solo home run to left, his 12th of the year, giving the Bulldogs an 8-0 advantage. In the eighth, Georgia pushed the lead to 11-0. Beckham drove in another run with a double to center that scored Side who had reached on an infield single. Two wild pitches allowed Beckham to move up to third and then score. Then, Josh Morris added a solo home run to left, his team-leading 21st of the season.
Westphal improved to 7-1, allowing just three hits with no walks and two strikeouts as the game took just one hour and 58 minutes to complete.
"Today’s game was exactly what we needed," said Georgia coach David Perno. "Mickey did a great job on the mound. Not only did he pitch a complete game but he also pitched a quick game. Our kids did not have to stand out in the heat and endure big innings like in Birmingham (at the SEC Tournament). We’ll be fresh and ready to go for tonight’s game."
"I’d just like to congratulate Georgia on playing a great game," said Sacred Heart coach Nick Giaquinto. "Their pitcher (Westphal) did a great job of keeping us off balance. "Also, I just want to make a point that I’m very proud of the way my guys handled themselves and played hard for nine innings."
"I look back at the SEC Tournament and everything I threw was up," said Westhal. "This week I worked on keeping the ball down. My hat’s off to my defense because they did a great job today. Bobby (Felmy) and Gordon (Beckham) each made several good plays this afternoon. Playing quick, having your defense behind you, and getting big hits at certain times gets things rolling - that’s what I think happened today."
Quotes
Sacred Heart Head Coach Nick Giaquinto:
"I'd just like to congratulate Georgia on playing a great game. Their pitcher (Westphal) did a great job of keeping us off balance. He was consistent and was around the plate all day. He had us out on our front foot a little bit. He just did a great job and I have to tip my hat to him for coming out and performing. They came up with a bunch of hits when they needed them."
"Also, I just want to make a point that I'm very proud of the way my guys handled themselves and played hard for nine innings."
Sacred Heart starting pitcher Jay Monti:
(On facing Jason Jacobs in fifth inning): "That was the wrong pitch for me. Two of those pitches I came down sidearm and came outside with them and I got him whiffing on them. Instead of coming back in with a fastball I went with a slider and he made a nice hit on it down the line."
(On facing a #1 seed team in Georgia): "We came out here to play. We played Manhattan throughout the year and they just took out number one Nebraska, so there is always hope for an upset. I think we can beat anyone on one day."