Athens Regional preview: 1) Georgia vs. 3) Louisville

by Mike Rutherford on May 31, 2008 2:30 PM EDT in Baseball

We'll go without the open thread this afternoon since it wasn't too effective last night.

It's the proverbial fight or flight moment.

1) GEORGIA BULLDOGS (35-22-1) vs. 3) LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (41-20)

Game Time: 3 p.m.

Site: Foley Field: Athens, Ga.

Television: ICN2/CSS

Radio: 1450 AM/CSTV Gametracker

Probable Starting Lineups

GEORGIA

1. Ryan Peisen (3B), .336
2. Matt Olson (RF), .296
3. Gordon Beckham (SS), .390
4. Rich Poythress (1B), .358
5. Bryce Massanari (DH), .333
6. Matt Cerione (CF), .276
7. Joey Lewis (C), .238
8. Lyle Allen (LF), .266
9. David Thoms (2B), .212

LOUISVILLE

1. John Dao (SS), .354
2. Josh Richmond (LF), .280
3. Justin McClanahan (2B), .375
4. Chris Dominguez (3B), .371
5. Stewart Ijames (RF), .337
6. Jeff Arnold (C), .333
7. Andrew Clark (1B), .326
8. Phil Wunderlich (DH), .266
9. Drew Haynes (CF), .287

Starting Lineup Notes

--Georgia has used a number of different starting lineups in recent weeks, so don't be surprised if what you see this afternoon looks dissimilar to what's posted above.

--Bulldog second basemen David Thoms and Miles Starr have been splitting the starting duties since the last week of the regular season.

--After Josh Richmond's 0-for-5 performance on Friday, Dan McDonnell may elect to bump Drew Haynes back up to the two slot, or promote Phil Wunderlich - who doubled yesterday and will start against the UGA righty - to the spot.

Probable Starting Pitchers

GEORGIA

Georgia head coach David Perno set his pitching rotation for this weekend before the Regional got started, and he'll stick with junior right-hander Trevor Holder (7-4, 4.48 ERA) despite yesterday's disappointing loss. Holder had been the Dawgs' No. 1 starter all season, but a strained right shoulder forced him to miss the last two weeks of the season. This will be his first action since a May 9 start against Vanderbilt.

LOUISVILLE

The Cardinals will hand the ball to another demoted former No. 1 starter, Zack Pitts (6-5, 4.74 ERA). The 2007 Big East Pitcher of the Year has had a disappointing senior season, allowing 49 runs in 74 innings, and allowing opponents to hit .286 off of him. He comes into this afternoon's game off of a performance in the Big East Tournament where he allowed three runs on six hits and lasted just two innings. It really could be either extreme for each starting pitcher today.

Notable and Quotable

--Louisville faced Georgia in a 2002 Regional game, falling 7-1.

--"When you have the veterans we have and when you have the pitching staff, it's do-able. We've got to win a game. We've been scuffling now for a couple weeks. Hopefully, we'll get back on track." --Georgia head coach David Perno

What Happens Next

The winner will move on to play the loser of today's Lipscomb/Georgia Tech game at 2 p.m. tomorrow, while it's the end of the season for the loser.

GO CARDS.

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Comments

Thanks Mike....

for the Game Tracker link. I am NOT ready for the season to be over – sure hope the guys will be more focused today….a win would be sweet. Let’s go CARDS !

by Linda on May 31, 2008 3:06 PM EDT reply actions

Whoa

Goin’ with freshman Bob Revesz instead of Pitts.

Not sure if McDonnell is playing to win the tournament or if he simply thinks Revesz is the more reliable option at this point.

by Mike Rutherford on May 31, 2008 3:09 PM EDT reply actions

I guess..

I should be thankful that we got that run but we are leaving too many ducks on the pond – beautiful catch by Ighams…we got to hold them.

by Linda on May 31, 2008 3:44 PM EDT reply actions

Leaving too many guys in scoring position

Still, the 3-1 lead is nice.

by Mike Rutherford on May 31, 2008 4:02 PM EDT reply actions

I thought...

he was safe on that last out. Nice lst out though.

by Linda on May 31, 2008 4:04 PM EDT reply actions

oh man....

we have to leave for church so will have to listen to the game on the radio – sure hope we can hold on. Looking better than yesterday so we got that going for us…..let’s go CARDS – crap on those dawgs….hehe

by Linda on May 31, 2008 4:21 PM EDT reply actions

Phil Wunderlich belts his first homer of the season

And it’s 5-2 Cards as we head to the seventh.

by Mike Rutherford on May 31, 2008 5:07 PM EDT reply actions

I had a class with Phil

He’s a cool guy, I’m happy for him

by sam34gtr on May 31, 2008 5:18 PM EDT reply actions

Three-run bomb from the SEC POY

And it’s 5-5.

by Mike Rutherford on May 31, 2008 5:21 PM EDT reply actions

Oy, this team is inventing ways to lose

8-5 Dawgs

by Mike Rutherford on May 31, 2008 5:30 PM EDT reply actions

Interesting

Sounds like almost every other Cards team… ever.

In all sports

by sam34gtr on May 31, 2008 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Thank you for that uplifting comment

I’m not a baseball ‘expert’, but I do watch a great deal of it, and it seems to me that inexperience did us in this year in the NCAA tourney. The team’s fielding, which Coach called ‘not playing clean in the field’, or, in other words, making too many errors and poor decisions, was just a product of their youth and inexperience. I watch this team every year, and I’m telling you, for them to have won the Big East Tournament this year starting that many freshman was major.

Good season, surging program, excellent baseball coach, facilities second to none = College World Series appearance again really soon.

by BR7 on Jun 1, 2008 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks BR7.....

I like the positive take you have on the game and the loss – I agree with you that we have a surging program, excellent baseball coach, facilities second to none and that we have another trip to the College World Series in our future. Anyone who sees ONLY the negative in ANY of U of L sports’ performances is truly short sighted. Go CARDS !!

by Linda on Jun 1, 2008 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions