ATHENS – It was almost a perfect weekend for Georgia spring sports.
There is no way to top what the Bulldogs’ baseball team did. Not only did it sweep No. 5 Arkansas in a three-game SEC series at Foley Field, but it happened in the most dramatic of fashion. Trailing 8-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Georgia’s Connor Tate hit his second grand slam in a week to tie the game. Parks Harber followed with a solo shot for a five-run comeback and clean sweep.
It was the Bulldogs (23-17, 7-11 SEC) sixth win in their last eight SEC games since starting the season 1-9. Georgia will have a chance to further distance itself from the bottom of the league this coming weekend when it travels to Ole Miss (21-19, 3-15) for another three-game set.
“It was just an awesome feeling,” coach Scott Stricklin said. “This team deserves it. We had some tough sledding the first few weeks, but we’re playing better, certainly. To get that sweep was huge for our team. It’s hard to do that against anybody, I don’t care who you are playing, but to do in the league against a top five team, that’s really good baseball.”
It was Georgia’s first sweep of Top 5 team since 1993 when it swept top-ranked Mississippi State. Also, it was only the second-ever sweep of Arkansas in the series history, the only other one came in 2000. The Bulldogs play host to Georgia State Tuesday (6 p.m.)
Meanwhile, back in the Razorbacks’ hometown of Fayetteville, Ark., Georgia’s women’s tennis team was putting the finishing touches on an incredible run to win the SEC Tournament. To do it, the Lady Dogs had to knock off No. 2-ranked and undefeated Texas A&M 4-2.
It was the ninth SEC Tournament title in program history and the 20th SEC crown overall. Graduate Meg Kowalski and sophomore Guillermina Grant earned All-SEC Tournament team honors and Kowalski was tabbed the Most Outstanding Player.
“I’m really, really happy, excited and proud of this team,” coach Jeff Wallace said. “We have put in a lot of work and they came together this weekend and played some absolutely incredible tennis.”
Back in Athens, the Georgia softball team also put together a clean slate. Pitchers Madison Kerpics and Shelby Walters combined for a one-hit, 3-0 shutout to complete a sweep of South Carolina. The 12th-ranked Bulldogs (37-10, 15-5) have just one conference series remaining at LSU (May 5-7). They’ll play host to Mercer on Wednesday (7 p.m., SECN).
“I’m really proud of our team proud of the competitiveness over the course of the weekend,” coach Tony Baldwin said. “Proud of our pitching staff just commanding the ball. Back-to-back one hitters is certainly going to put you in a position to win.”
Unfortunately for UGA, Georgia’s men’s tennis team was unable to make it a perfect weekend while competing in the SEC Tournament in Auburn. The No. 4-ranked and previously SEC-undefeated Bulldogs (20-6, 12-0) won the doubles point against No. 5 Kentucky (24-4, 9-3 SEC) and quickly went up 3-1. But they lost the last three matches, with No. 4 singles Blake Croyder and No. 5 Miguel Perez Peña each having a chance to clinch the championship point in their third sets. Alas, Kentucky’s Jaden Weekes prevailed 7-6 (9-7) edged Perez Peña in the final set, and the Wildcats won their first tournament title since 1992.
The Bulldogs must reset for an NCAA Tournament run that will begin as a regional host.
“Credit to Kentucky, they played better than we did during some of the most important points,” said head coach Manny Diaz. “We had opportunities to win, but I’m so proud of the way we competed and fought today. This will make us stronger.”
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