Georgia's head coach Wes Johnson had a pivotal moment with pitcher Dylan Vigue during Sunday's game. With the bases loaded and no outs in the third inning, Johnson's advice was simple yet effective: "Son, you're gonna attack the middle of the strike zone.
We're gonna get back to that. And when you do, you'll be fine."
Vigue took the guidance to heart, needing just six pitches to navigate out of the jam. He struck out Samford's Jake Souders and then coaxed an inning-ending double play from Luke Boykin.
This was the only hiccup in Vigue's second start of the season, where he allowed just one hit over four innings, with three walks and six strikeouts. Georgia cruised to a 22-0 victory, completing a series sweep.
However, it was Georgia's explosive offense that truly stole the show. The team posted 22 runs on 17 hits, a high-water mark in Johnson's three-year tenure. Every starter notched a hit and scored a run, showcasing the depth and power of the lineup.
Third baseman Brennan Hudson, who belted two home runs in his last two at-bats, summed up the team's momentum: "When you know other guys are going, it gives you confidence and energy. You get in the box with, kind of the power in you to follow them up."
Samford cycled through five pitchers over seven innings, but none could stifle Georgia's red-hot bats. By the second inning, Georgia was up 7-0, and a staggering 10-run inning buried Samford further. This was the most runs Georgia had scored in a single inning in nearly a year.
Coach Johnson was thrilled with the offensive explosion, exclaiming, "Good Lord, couldn't be happier with (the bats)."
The pitching staff also shone brightly. Right-hander Justin Byrd delivered a solid inning of relief, and freshmen Dylan Wood and Joe Nottingham made impressive collegiate debuts. The pair combined to strike out five of six batters, with Wood hitting 96 mph and Nottingham reaching 97 mph on the radar gun.
Johnson sees bright futures for the young pitchers: "Both those young men are gonna get more opportunities. You're trying to put them in a position to have success that first outing."
With a 6-1 record, Georgia looks ahead to facing Troy on Wednesday at 3 p.m., riding high on both their offensive and pitching prowess.