ATHENS —– If Michael Palazzone were a horse, he would have saddle sores by now.
The Georgia Bulldogs have ridden hard their ace right-hander, and they’ll be on his back again Wednesday as their season of desperation continues in the SEC tournament in Hoover, Ala.
The Bulldogs (28-28, 16-14 SEC) are seeded fifth in the tournament and will face third-ranked Vanderbilt (National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, USA Today) in the first round at 8:30 p.m. Georgia enters the double-elimination tournament in the same place it has been for pretty much the entire season — desperately seeking wins to extend its hard-luck season.
The Bulldogs need to win at least three games to be eligible to receive an NCAA tournament bid. Despite Georgia’s national RPI of 26 and No. 2 strength of schedule, the selection requires a winning record for consideration.
“It’s definitely possible,” said Palazzone, who Thursday notched Georgia’s lone victory in a three-game set with the SEC co-champions. “It’s going to be a tough road. It’s the top teams in the SEC, and they’re all nationally ranked for the most part. We know what we’re been up against. But we’ve battled with every team we’ve faced. We all think we can do it.”
If they can, Palazzone will be a big reason why. The junior from Marietta was a block of granite in the middle of the Bulldogs’ rotation all season. At one point he was 6-0 in conference play and, with one truly bad outing all season, he enters Wednesday night’s game with a 7-2 record and 3.22 ERA against the league. Palazzone (9-3, 3.17) takes the mound with six wins over opponents ranked in at least one poll — Vanderbilt, Florida, FSU, LSU, Arkansas and Mississippi State.
“We’re not even a factor without what he’s done,” Georgia coach David Perno said. “Probably the best thing about it is he really had a tough go of it last year. For him to rebound and not only be better but be amongst the best in the league in the best league in the country has been very gratifying for a coach. I’ve enjoyed watching him this year.”
Palazzone has pitched a workhorse-like 102 1/3 innings in 15 games, in which he allowed only 11 walks. In a 5-4 win over Vandy last week, he gave up four runs on 62 pitches in the first three innings, but threw just 54 pitches — 49 of them strikes — while retiring 19 of the last 20 batters he faced. That was against a Vanderbilt lineup that includes eight players hitting .309 or better.
“He’s got good command of his fastball,” Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin said. “He puts different things in the hitters head from the standpoint of being able to throw a breaking ball and a change-up. He’s calculated. I love the way he competes. He’s a tough kid to take on, a tough cat, that’s for sure.”
It’s a far cry from what people saw from Palazzone as a sophomore, when he finished 4-6 with an 8.66 ERA.
“I had a pretty good summer, and I just tried to carry that over into the fall and spring,” said Palazzone, who recently turned 22. “ I’m just trying to give my best for Georgia, and things have worked out this year. I’m just thankful for the opportunity to get out there and play.”
Georgia is thankful as well.
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SEC tournament
When, where: Wednesday-Sunday, Hoover, Ala.
Wednesday’s games: Alabama-Arkansas, 10:30 a.m.; Mississippi State-Florida, 1 p.m.; Auburn-South Carolina, 5:30 p.m.; Georgia-Vanderbilt, 8:30 p.m.
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