by Brady Penn

ATLANTA – Heading into Regional Play, the Georgia Bulldogs felt great about their chances when the regions were announced. In Athens, the Dawgs, UNC Wilmington, in-state rival Georgia Tech and Army squared off. Led by Charlie Condon, the team was looking to host not only Regional games, but also Super Regional. 

After a thrilling 8-6 victory in extra innings, Georgia has realized that goal. The tournament got underway with UNCW taking down GT on Friday. After that, Georgia had a come from behind victory against Army, who was dispatched on Saturday by GT.

The Dawgs drew UNCW in the winner’s side of the Regional on Saturday and handled the Seahawks 11-2, sitting at 2-0 in the tournament. A rematch ensued between GT and UNCW in which the Yellow Jackets got the victory after a lengthy rain delay on Sunday afternoon. This set up another edition of Clean, Old-Fashioned hate on the diamond.

Wes Johnson and the Bulldogs took both official regular season contests against the Jackets, and with a win would clinch a spot in the next round. Georgia took an early lead, but quickly fell down 5-2 after a Vahn Lackey three run bomb for GT.

Georgia slowly crawled back and tied things up in the ninth off of a Kolby Branch solo homer. After Tech stranded three baserunners in the bottom of the ninth, Georgia struck for three runs in the tenth. With just one run in the bottom half, the Jackets were defeated. After 16 years, the Dawgs clinched a spot in the Super Regional. 

Georgia now will take on NC State in the Super Regional at Foley Field, with a few days of rest. Georgia finishes the year with a sweep of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and now looks for more as the tournament proceeds.