Georgia defeated Florida 9-2 on Saturday to win the season series 2-1 and finish the year on a positive note. Whether coach David Perno will be back next season to build on it will be determined in the coming days.
Four pitchers, including winner Jared Walsh, scattered nine hits and senior shortstop Kyle Farmer went 3-for-5 in his final game as the Bulldogs took the season series from the Gators for the first time since 2006. Georgia also beat Georgia Tech in 11 innings on Tuesday to win that series for the first time since 2007.
Catcher Brett DeLoach hit a home run in his final at-bat, Walsh also had a round-tripper and sophomore center fielder knocked in three runs on two hits.
But there will be no postseason for the Bulldogs for the third time in the last four seasons under Perno. Georgia (21-32, 7-20 SEC) finished last in the 14-team SEC and will not be among the 12 conference teams to participate in the SEC tournament. With only one year left on his contract, Perno’s future with the team uncertain.
“Sure, you have doubts when you have a bad season like this,” said Perno, who is 398-334 in 12 seasons and has led the Bulldogs to three College World Series berths, including the 2008 championship game. “This is not what expectations are here and I realize that. I don’t want to be a part of this. But circumstances this year, unfortunately, we couldn’t control.”
The Bulldogs lost three players — pitcher Pete Nagel, outfielder Connor Welton and catcher Brandon Stephens — to season-ending injuries before the first game. Two other players — Jonathan Taylor and Chance Veazey — participated in Senior Day in wheelchairs. They suffered paralyzing injuries in back-to-back years.
Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity, who cut short a vacation this week to attend the final game, declined to comment on Perno’s situation.
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