Winthrop knocks of Georgia baseball

ATHENS - Winthrop snapped Georgia’s seven-game winning streak Tuesday at Foley Field by posting a 5-1 victory.

Five Eagle hurlers limited the 11th-ranked Bulldogs (20-11) to one unearned run on seven hits while left fielder Tony Brunetti went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run to pace Winthrop.

The Eagles (13-19) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second courtesy of an RBI-double by Bryn Henderson and a two-out, run-scoring single by Bennett Jordan off Bulldog freshman Justin Grimm. Eagle redshirt freshman starter Wade Newman, who was on a 55-pitch limit after missing last season due to arm surgery, blanked the Bulldogs through the first two frames and eventually went 3.2 innings for the win. He improved to 2-1 while Grimm dropped to 0-1.

The Eagles pushed their lead to 5-0 in the third as Kevin Nolan doubled and scored on a base hit by Eddie Rohan. Then, Brunetti connected for his first home run, a two-run shot. Georgia pushed across a run in the bottom of the third on a two-out, run-scoring single by senior Matt Olson. Junior shortstop Gordon Beckham along with Olson had two hits apiece while senior Ryan Peisel saw his 13-game hitting streak end after going 0-for-4.

Georgia sophomore Steve Esmonde started the fourth in relief of Grimm who surrendered five runs on six hits in fifth career start. Newman reached his pitch limit with two outs in the fourth and gave way to left-hander Billy Tinsley. Newman allowed one unearned run on one hit. Esmonde pitched a career-high five scoreless innings and did not allow a hit.

“You have to give credit to Winthrop, they came out early and built a lead and we didn’t do much offensively,” said Georgia coach David Perno. “We didn’t have enough big hits, and it’s too bad we wasted a great outing by Steve Esmonde and our bullpen.”

Georgia’s bullpen tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and recorded one strikeout. Bulldog junior Will Harvil pitched the ninth.

Georgia returns to action Wednesday in Atlanta against 10th-ranked Georgia Tech (25-7). First pitch at Russ Chandler Stadium is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., and the game will be televised live by SportSouth.