Cinderella was so close to getting the prince. After all looked lost, at the darkest time Georgia had seen in Omaha this year, the Dawgs seemed to will their way back. Down three runs with six more outs to play in a game where everything broke for Fresno, the Dawgs wouldn't quit.Gordon Beckham hammered a ball to start the miracle rally in the bottom of the 8th and break the UGA season HR record and score Matt Olson. Cerione doubled over Tommy Mendonca, Fresno's brick wall of a third baseman, to tie it up at 6. Then Joey Lewis hit a ball off second base to put the Dawgs up and cue Joshua Fields. The national closer of the year slammed the door shut, 1-2-3. 7-6 Georgia. It was an inspiring performance by a team that looked done for when the rally started.
(Image: Online Athens)
The game started completely differently. Georgia, rested and ready, looked like the team that had played two games over the weekend. It wasn't that we played bad necessarily, but we gave up runs at all the wrong times. Alex McCree, unhittable in prior relief duty, looked arm weary in the 8th, giving up an RBI double and a towering home run that Matt Cerione took about one step toward before admiring its arc.
Starter Trevor Holder would look like an ace until a Californian would hit one deep into the stands. Our pitchers just gave up big hits in crucial situations. Fresno had six earned runs on only seven hits. All our hitters could do was hit ground balls to Fresno infielders who gobbled them up. It didn't matter that Fresno's pitchers had huge ERAs. They looked loose and ready while we looked frustrated and befuddled.
But down three, we woke up and stole a game. Beckham hadn't been overpowering in the CWS. He was solid, but his star was dim when compared to the other first rounders in Omaha. Maybe he was just saving it for the right moment. It arrived last night. Not only did he get a dramatic home run that led Georgia back from the dead, but he pulled off a slick double play on a line drive that erased a man in scoring position in the top of the 8th. The next batter homered.
Only one more victory stands between Georgia and their second national championship.
See Also (updated):
- -- Fresno Falls Flat - Modesto Bee
-- Add Perno to the list - Macon Telegraph
-- Fields Back to Basics - DawgPost
-- Georgia Wins - DawgSports.com
-- Lewis Knows his Role - ABH
-- Perfect time to break out of a slump - ABH
-- Fresno Took Aim at Holder - ABH
-- Another Late Rally - AJC
-- Dawgs need big outing from Montgomery in Game 2 - AJC
-- One Win Away - DawgPost
-- Video Highlights - ESPN
-- Georgia Rallies - UGAsports
-- AJC Photos
-- DawgPost Photos
-- Georgia Beats Fresno State - Omaha World
-- One More! - Red and Black
-- Beckham's Blast Makes him Top Dawg - Red and Black
-- Holder Gets it Done - DawgPost
-- Poythress Makes Pitchers Regret Moves - Omaha World
