20th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs knocked off Southern California 

20th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs knocked off Southern California

The 20th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs knocked off Southern California and Trojan ace Ian Kennedy 3-2 Thursday at Dedeaux Field to improve to 7-0.

Senior left-hander Mickey Westphal along with junior Adam McDaniel and sophomore Joshua Fields provided another strong pitching performance as the Bulldogs won in their debut on the West Coast. Westphal (1-0), who was making his debut this season and 33rd career start, allowed two runs on seven hits through five innings. From there, McDaniel and Fields combined to toss four shutout innings to preserve the win. Fields notched his third save on the year, pitching the final two innings with two strikeouts.

Kennedy struck out 11 in 6.2 innings but allowed three runs on a career-high nine hits as the Trojans fell to 8-8. Georgia has now won five one-run games already this season and the 7-0 start is the best in the David Perno era which began in 2002.

Georgia grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second. Senior right fielder Bobby Felmy drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on a double by Jason Jacobs (2-for-2). After retiring Ryan Peisel, freshman shortstop Gordon Beckham (2-for-2) lined a single up the middle to bring Jacobs home for a 2-0 edge. In the fourth, Jacobs led off with a base hit, stole second and scored on a two-out double by second baseman Matthew Dunn for a 3-0 advantage. Georgia was four-for-five in stolen base attempts Thursday after entering the game five-for-five on the year.