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Georgia rallies to beat Fresno State in opener of CWS finals

Mon 23rd, June 2008

Omaha, NE (Sports Network) - Gordon Beckham hit a two-run homer during a four-run eighth inning, and Joey Lewis doubled in the go-ahead run to cap the frame, as Georgia edged Fresno State, 7-6, in the first game of the finals of the College World Series.

Georgia, the nation's No. 8 team, moved within one victory of winning the best-of-three matchup, and can take the national championship with a win on Tuesday. The school's last national championship came in 1990.

After Fresno State had scored three times in the top of the eighth to take a 6-3 lead, Matt Olson led off the bottom half with a single. Fresno State closer Brandon Burke came in to pitch, but was ineffective, as Beckham drilled the ball to left-center field to bring Georgia within one.

"I choked up half an inch on the bat after Burke's first pitch strike," Beckham said. "I knew he was going to throw a fastball at some point, but not that pitch. I had it in my mind that I was going to hit that 27th home run when we need it the most. Tonight was a good night to do it, but we still have to come out and win tomorrow."

Burke issued a walk to Rich Poythress, and later in the frame, Matt Cerione doubled to drive in the run and tie the game. Lewis followed with another double, up the middle that Burke almost caught with his bare hand. But the ball skipped off second base and into the outfield as Cerione came around to give Georgia a 7-6 lead.

Georgia closer Joshua Fields, who was 17-for-17 in save opportunities coming into the contest, set Fresno State down in order in the ninth to end the game.

"That was just a great college baseball game. It's what you'd expect in a national championship series," Georgia head coach Dave Perno said. "Fortunately, we have Beckham and Fields in our dugout because in big games great players step up."

The loss puts Fresno State in a must-win spot. Though the last time the school was in that situation, Sunday against North Carolina, it prevailed.

"We've been in it in the regional, super regional and here. We just have to go out there and play. We'll walk out there with our heads up," Fresno State third baseman Tommy Mendonca said. "We're a loose ball club. If you're uptight, that's when errors and mental mistakes come. We need to be loose, calm and easy."

Will Harvil got the win after recording the final out of the eighth inning, while Georgia starter Trevor Holder pitched seven solid innings. Holder gave up just three runs on four hits.

Beckham finished the game 2-for-4, while Cerione went 2-for-3 with two RBI for Georgia.

Burke took the loss after giving up three runs in the decisive inning. Fresno State starter Sean Bonesteele went three innings and gave up a run on two hits.

Steve Detwiler led Fresno State's offense with two hits -- including a two- run home run -- and three RBI, while Steve Susdorf doubled, tripled and drove in one.

Fresno State has beaten long odds all season. The school finished the regular season with a 33-27 record, but swept through the WAC Tournament to become a fourth seed in the Long Beach Regional. There, Fresno State knocked off 11th- ranked Long Beach State and sixth-ranked San Diego, advancing to the Super Regional, where it topped third-ranked Arizona State to become the first fourth-seed to ever reach the College World Series.

After beating fifth-ranked Rice, Fresno State went on to eventually eliminate second-ranked North Carolina on Sunday, and the magical ride looked like it might continue with a late rally in Monday's contest against Georgia.

The game was deadlocked at 3-3 through seven innings, and Fresno State seemingly took control in the top of the eighth. Erik Wetzel led off with a walk against Alex McRee, who came in to relieve Holder, and Susdorf followed by ripping a high pitch to the gap in right-center field for a double.

Wetzel raced home well before the throw got there to put his team in front, though Susdorf was doubled off second base on a line drive out to short. Mendonca, however, kept the inning going with a solo shot to left-center, pushing Fresno State's lead to 5-3.

McRee then hit Ryan Overland with a pitch, and was taken out in favor of Justin Earls. Detwiler was the only batter Earls faced, and he stroked an RBI double to make it 6-3 before Harvil came in to end the frame.

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