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Georgia drops Game 1 of Super Regional to NC State in 18-1 blowout
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Georgia’s 2024 season is on the line after a disastrous opening to the Athens Super Regional. The No. 7 national seed Bulldogs were walloped by NC State in Game 1, falling 18-1 on Saturday.
The Wolfpack took control of the game with an 11-run 2nd inning.
UGA had Kolten Smith on the mound on Saturday. In the top of the 1st, NC State managed just a 2-out single against Smith. Things took a turn when the Pack returned to the plate.
Smith was chased before recording an out in the top of the 2nd. His final line was 1 IP, 10 H and 10 R (8 ER).
Smith allowed just 2 extra-base hits, including a Serrano III 2-run home run to right field, during NC State’s scoring parade.
PACK ATTACK #RoadToOmaha x ESPNU / @NCStateBaseball pic.twitter.com/0GXPRG2g4q
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 8, 2024
With NC State up 7-0, Marsh relieved Smith. The Wolfpack tacked on two 2-run doubles to cap the 11-hit, 11-run inning.
HOW WE FEELING ABOUT THAT SECOND INNING #WPN⁉️
Butterworth: 2-for-2, RBI
Sosa: 1-for-2
L. Nixon: 2-for-2, 3 RBI
Heavner: 1-for-1
Soles: 2-for-2, 5 RBI
Serrano: 1-for-2, 2 RBI
Pennington: 1-for-1
Makarewicz: 1-for-1 pic.twitter.com/PHeBZ0xoNU— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) June 8, 2024
With plenty of run support, NC State starter Highfill cruised to victory. He finished with a line of 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K. Shaffner tossed 3 hitless, scoreless innings to close out the Wolfpack.
Georgia finished with 4 hits, scoring its only run in the bottom of the 5th inning.
Down 1-0 in a best-of-3 series, it’s do-or-die for the Bulldogs on Sunday. Since the Super Regionals were introduced in 1999, 78% of Game 1 winners have advanced to the College World Series.
UGA did not face elimination in the Athens Regional, going 3-0 to advance to the Super Regional round.
The last time Georgia lost a series opener was April 26 on the road at Texas A&M. UGA last dropped a home opener on April 5 against Mississippi State. The Bulldogs dropped both of those series, also losing Game 2 to Texas A&M and Game 3 to MSU.
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CLAIM OFFERFeatured image via @NCStateBaseball on X, formerly Twitter
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
