Top-ranked Arkansas wins game one in Athens

ATHENS, Ga. – In a clash of SEC titans, top-ranked Arkansas used a late offensive surge to pull away from No. 7 Georgia, earning a 13-3 win in front of a sellout crowd of 3,633 Friday night at Foley Field.

Georgia (30-6, 8-5 SEC) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but the Razorbacks (32-3, 12-1 SEC) stormed back with 13 unanswered runs, including a seven-run ninth inning, to claim their 12th straight conference win — the longest SEC win streak in program history.

The Bulldogs struck first in the second inning when graduate Christian Adams scored on a groundout by senior Devin Obee. One batter later, junior shortstop Kolby Branch continued his hot streak at the plate, launching a two-run homer to left. It was his third home run in the past two games and extended Georgia’s NCAA-leading total to 93 on the season.

Junior right-hander Brian Curley delivered three scoreless innings with five strikeouts to start the game, but Arkansas tied the score in the fourth with three runs on three hits. From there, the Razorbacks took control.

Georgia missed several key scoring opportunities in the middle innings, leaving the bases loaded and stranding runners on second and third.

“We had opportunities there,” said Georgia head coach Wes Johnson. “We had runners on second and third, and we didn’t get a man in. We had the bases loaded and didn’t get a man in. That’s the difference in games like this and in this league.”

“They did and we didn’t,” Johnson continued. “That’s going to be the difference in a lot of these games. The teams that take advantage of it usually go on to win. We didn’t do that today.”

Despite the loss, Johnson pointed to several bright spots.

“I thought Brian [Curley] threw the ball fine. He missed on a couple pitches there in the fourth that frustrated me a little bit. But five strikeouts, no walks — he continues to grow and get better,” Johnson said. “And Kolby Branch continues to see the ball well. I thought he had a good night.”

Arkansas reliever Aiden Jimenez (4-0) earned the win with 2.1 scoreless innings, while Georgia’s JT Quinn (0-1) took the loss.

Though the series opener got away late, Branch expressed confidence in the Bulldogs’ ability to bounce back.

“We have a veteran group of guys who come out and show up to the ball field every day and play their tails off,” Branch said. “We’re a good ball club and we know that. We’re not going to let one game, or one series take us down. We’ll be just fine.”

Georgia will look to even the series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 4:02 p.m. and the game will be streamed on SECN+.