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More innings sought from starters
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/23/08
Omaha, Neb. — The new format for the College World Series has fit Georgia just fine. Thanks to numerous off days, the Bulldogs were able to make judicious use of their deep bullpen and play their way into the championship for the first time since 1990.
Now, Georgia must alter its pitching strategy entering the final, a best-of-three series that starts today against the winner of Sunday's Fresno State-North Carolina game. But coach David Perno likes the way things set up for his team.
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| Third baseman Ryan Peisel is batting .500 in the leadoff spot at the CWS. | ||
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"We'll go back to what we've done all year to win the SEC," Perno said. "It's not who or when, it's how. We've beaten some good teams in three-game sets all year long and we need to find a way to win one more series."
Georgia will start junior Trevor Holder (8-4) Monday, with senior Nick Montgomery (4-2) going in the second game. A third game, if needed, means Georgia will start either Nathan Moreau (4-3) or Stephen Dodson (5-4) if he's not called on to pitch long relief in the first game.
"We need to get more out of our starting pitchers," Perno said. "I can't be so quick on the trigger."
Dean Weaver, the team's right-handed setup man, threw 3-2/3 innings on Saturday and probably won't be available today. That leaves Dodson and lefty Alex McRee as the middle men for the first game, with closer Joshua Fields not likely to enter unless it's a save situation.
The bullpen, which earlier this season had a 40-inning scoreless streak, is 3-0 in the CWS with one save and a 4.08 ERA in 17-2/3 innings. The ERA is inflated due to the four runs allowed by Fields in one inning in eliminating Stanford.
The offense continues to be paced by leadoff hitter Ryan Peisel, who Saturday became only the fifth player in Georgia history to get 100 hits in a season. The senior from Marietta's Lassiter High is 7-for-14 with two homers and seven RBIs in the CWS.
At 6 feet 3, 205 pounds, Peisel isn't a prototypical leadoff man. Perno used him there for the final 21 games of the 2007 season and Peisel hit .374. Earlier this season, Perno tried using Peisel, the Colorado Rockies' 12th-round draft choice, deeper in the lineup to get more speed at the top of the order, but soon realized his mistake.
Peisel is hitting .342 with 15 homers and 71 RBIs, second on the team behind All-American Gordon Beckham in each category.
"He gives you good at-bats, he gives you some power, and he hits for a good average," Perno said. "He's been as good a leadoff hitter as we've had in a long time."
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