ATHENS, Ga. — Senior left fielder Ryan Patterson unloaded two solo homers Saturday and left-handers Clay Dirks and Jason Determann combined to scatter six hits as fifth-ranked LSU defeated No. 17 Georgia, 5-3, at Foley Field.
LSU (16-4 overall, 2-0 SEC) won its fifth consecutive game, while Georgia (10-8, 0-2) lost its fourth straight contest.
The teams conclude their series at Noon CST Sunday. Left-hander Greg Smith (4-1) will start for LSU, and Georgia will send right-hander Sean Ruthven (1-1) to the mound.
Sunday’s game will be televised statewide on the Jumbo Sports Network (Cable Ch. 10 in Baton Rouge), and the game can be heard both on WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge and on the Internet at www.LSUsports.net.
The Tigers have now won 12 consecutive regular-season series, dating back to last season. LSU has also won 22 of its last 23 regular-season series, beginning with the final two weeks of the 2003 season.
Patterson opened the third inning with a homer off of Georgia starter Michael Hyle (1-1), giving the Tigers a 4-2 lead. He then increased the margin to 5-2 with a one-out homer in the fifth. Patterson, a senior from Rowlett, Texas, has homered seven times in the Tigers’ last four games, and he raised his season total to nine home runs.
Georgia grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against Dirks, as third baseman Jason Jacobs lined a two-out, two-run double. Dirks (5-0), however, limited the Bulldogs to no runs on just two hits over the next five innings.
LSU struck for three runs in the second against Hyle as right fielder Nick Stavinoha led off the inning with a homer — his fifth of the year — before DH Quinn Stewart delivered an RBI single and shortstop Michael Hollander added a run-scoring groundout.
Patterson’s solo shots in the third and fifth innings gave the Tigers a three-run advantage before Georgia mounted a threat in the seventh.
Dirks walked DH Joshua Fields to open the inning, and he was lifted for Determann, who surrendered a double to pinch hitter Derek Smith. Determann struck out left fielder Kyle Keen, but walked Josh Smith to load the bases.
Brandon Masters flied to shallow right field for the second out, but Determann uncorked a wild pitch with center fielder Joey Side at the plate, allowing Fields to score and narrow the deficit to 5-3. Determann then fanned Side to end the inning.
Georgia got a one-out double from Derek Smith in the ninth, but Determann retired Clay Whittemore and Josh Smith on ground balls to preserve the win and earn his second save of the year.
Determann fired three scoreless innings, allowing two hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
Dirks earned his fifth win in five decisions by limiting the Bulldogs to three runs on four hits in six innings with three walks and one strikeout.
Hyle was charged with the loss as he gave up five runs in seven hits in 6.2 innings with one walk and three strikeouts.
LSU 5, Georgia 3 (Mar 19, 2005 at Athens, Ga.)
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LSU………………. 031 010 000 – 5 8 0 (16-4, 2-0 SEC)
Georgia…………. 200 000 100 – 3 6 2 (10-8, 0-2 SEC)
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Pitchers: LSU – Dirks; Determann(7). Georgia – Hyle; Warren(7).
Win-Dirks(5-0) Save-Determann(2) Loss-Hyle(1-1) T-2:22 A-2745
HR LSU – Patterson 2 (9); Stavinoha (5).
Dirks faced 1 batter in the 7th.