After a 1-0 game through five innings, the No. 9 Georgia Bulldogs broke things open against the Mizzou Tigers’ (13-32, 0-22) bullpen, cruising to a 9-1 win in the opener of a three-game series in Columbia.
“I think we missed out on some opportunities,” head coach Kerrick Jackson said after the game. “We just couldn’t put up zeros when we needed to.”
The first two innings were quiet for both teams, with the only baserunners coming on a walk and a hit-by-pitch issued by Mizzou starter Brady Kehlenbrink. The scoring began in the third, when Georgia’s first hit of the game left the yard for a solo home run, giving the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead.
That solo shot was the only real blemish on the day for Kehlenbrink, who delivered arguably his best outing of the season. Though he exited with the Tigers trailing 1-0, he set new season highs in both innings pitched and total pitches, while tying his season high in strikeouts. He did allow five free passes — two walks and three hit batters — but surrendered just one hit.
“Each time out, he’s been better,” Jackson said of Kehlenbrink after the game. “I think what worked tonight was that we were much more efficient in stacking the zone.”
Brady Kehlenbrink’s final line: 4.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 74-39 (Total pitches-strikes)
Kehlenbrink didn’t exit until the middle of the fifth inning, after allowing two baserunners via free passes. He handed the ball off to sophomore Josh McDevitt, the first arm out of the bullpen. McDevitt escaped the jam, stranding both runners and keeping Kehlenbrink’s line intact.
That began a solid outing for McDevitt, who followed up his fifth-inning escape with another inning of work. He allowed just one run — a solo home run in the sixth — which extended Georgia’s lead to 2-0.
“I just think it’s who he is,” Jackson said when asked about McDevitt’s quick return to the lineup after starting the year injured.
“Coming into the year, we thought he had a chance to be in the weekend rotation for us,” Jackson said. “Then he has that setback, and just within the last week and a half he’s started to get back out there. So this was an opportunity for us to get him out there and get him in the mix.”
After Mizzou turned back to the bullpen following McDevitt’s 1.2 innings, the Bulldogs came alive at the plate and began to pile on runs.
A one-out single off Mizzou reliever Xavier Lovett got things started for the Bulldogs. After recording the second out, Lovett gave up an RBI single to make it 3-0, followed by a two-run triple that pushed Georgia’s lead to 5-0.
Georgia starter Brian Curley continued his strong season by shutting down the Tigers. In seven innings of work, he allowed just four hits, struck out six, and didn’t issue a walk. While he did hit three batters, Mizzou was unable to capitalize on the free baserunners.
The Tigers finally got on the board late, but not until after Curley had exited the game. Their lone run came on a one-out solo shot to right field by Pierre Seals — his fifth homer of the season — which he admired as it sailed out, cutting the deficit to 5-1.
Georgia put the game out of reach in the top of the ninth, tagging Mizzou reliever Ben Smith for four runs — all on home runs. The Tigers made a late push in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with one out after singles from Brock Daniels and Trey Callaway and a walk to Mateo Serna. Jackson Lovich drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, but that was all Missouri could manage, falling 9-2 in the series opener.
The Tigers’ bats were quiet when it mattered most. Missouri stranded nine runners on base and advanced just seven into scoring position — only one of whom scored, and that came on Seals’ solo home run.
“Trying to do too much,” Jackson said when asked what went wrong. “We were trying to get the hit, and that never works in this game. You can do everything perfectly and still not end up getting the hit.”
“The only thing that frustrated me today was that we didn’t make adjustments sooner,” Jackson said.
The Tigers will be back in action Saturday for the second of three games this weekend against Georgia. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at Taylor Stadium in Columbia, with the game available to stream on ESPN+.