Georgia baseball is off to a perfect start in the 2024 season, moving to 7-0 with a walk-off victory at home against Northern Kentucky on Sunday. Freshman Tre Phelps was hit by a pitch three times, the third coming with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, giving the Bulldogs a 12-11 win to sweep the three-game series.
It was a career day by Phelps, who also recorded his first-career hit — a home run — to put the Bulldogs up 8-5 in the fifth. That run helped propel Georgia’s 4-run fifth inning, which included homers by Phelps, Logan Jordan and Kolby Branch.
Branch led the Georgia offense, hitting 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and two runs. Charlie Condon had an efficient day at the plate, hitting 4-for-5 with an RBI, two runs and a walk.
The Bulldogs ultimately squandered a 9-5 lead due to inconsistency on the mound. UGA’s pitching staff allowed 16 hits and four walks combined. Starter Leighton Finley gave up five hits, two of which were home runs, for four runs in three innings. Reliever Josh Roberge was pulled after 2.2 innings with eight hits and four more runs.
Despite the play on the mound, the Bulldogs held Northern Kentucky back during the late charge by the Norse. Georgia’s power at the plate was once again on full display. UGA’s 22 home runs in seven games leads the SEC.
Georgia will face tougher tests soon with matchups against Presbyterian and Michigan State before a three-game series with Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs will face their first ranked opponent when No. 18 Iowa makes a trip to Athens on March 15.
𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤-𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐇𝐁𝐏 🤯@TrePhelps1 is hit by pitch for his THIRD-STRAIGHT at bat with bases loaded to walk in @CharlieCondon14 for the win!
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🐶 12#GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/fE0Mr4en0t— Georgia Baseball (@BaseballUGA) February 25, 2024
