Georgia Coaching Staff Big Bulldog Rallies in the Perno Era
As Yogi Berra once said, “it ain’t
over until it’s over.” Georgia has had
more than 20 memorable comeback
wins under head coach David Perno including three from a seven-run deficit and another when the Bulldogs trailed 9-0.
Here’s a look at the top four ac-
cording to the Bulldog coaches and players.
June 6, 2004 Georgia Storms Past #22 Clemson 7-6 To Win NCAA Regional
ATHENS: Clemson forced another game to decide the regional title when it rallied back from a 9-2 deficit in the fifth inning to defeat Georgia 10-9. After a 45-minute break between games, Clemson jumped ahead 4-0 by the second inning and carried a 6-4 lead to the ninth as the home team. In the bottom of the eighth, Coach Perno was ejected for arguing balls and strikes. The crowd and the Bulldogs seemed to be energized by Perno’s actions. Bobby Felmy led off the ninth by hitting the first pitch over the fence for a solo home run. Then, Jason Jacobs followed with another blast to tie the game at 6-6. Clint Sammons smashed a solo shot in the 10th to give the Bulldogs a 7-6 lead. Will Startup blanked the Tigers over the last 3.2 innings including two strikeouts with runners on in the bottom of the 10th to push the Bulldogs in to a Super Regional! The next day, Tiger coach Jack Leggett called Perno and said looking back it was one of the greatest days of competition he had been a part of in his career. Also, he wished the Bulldogs continued success in the post season.
May 26, 2006 Georgia Wins Slugest Over South Carolina 16-10
BIRMINGHAM: In one of the all-time great comebacks in school history, ninth-ranked Georgia overcame an early 9-0 deficit to power past USC 16-10 in an SEC Tournament elimination game. The Bulldogs trailed 9-0 in the second and then freshman Trevor Holder, senior Rip Warren and junior Joshua Fields combined to cool off the USC bats. For the second day in a row, Georgia pounded out 16 runs on 22 hits in a game that lasted exactly 3:42. Georgia cut it to 9-5 in the third and 9-8 by the fourth before taking the lead for good in the fifth when Joey Side smashed a two-run home run to dead center off Gamecock closer Wynn Pelzer. Along with Side, Jonathan Wyatt, Gordon Beckham and Kyle Keen drove in two runs apiece while senior Jason Jacobs went 3-for-5 with four RBI.
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May 11, 2003 Georgia Outlasts #14 Miss. State 8-7
ATHENS: Georgia trailed 7-0 going to the sixth and did not have a hit. They chipped away with one run in the sixth and two in the seventh, eighth and ninth to force extra innings. The four runs over the final two frames all came with two outs, highlighted by a tworun double by Justin McClain, an RBI-double by Josh Smith and a run-scoring single by David Coffey to tie it at 7-7. Then in the 14th, MSU pushed one run across only to see the Bulldogs answer with a double by Jon Armitage and eventually a sacrifice fly by McClain. In the 15th, Justin Holmes led off with a double and after a walk to Smith, Coffey drilled a base hit to left field for the game-winner! The game took 4:41 and was the second longest in school history!
April 28, 2002 Georgia Avoids Gator Sweep
GAINESVILLE, FLA: Along with getting no-hit by Keith Ramsey until one out in the seventh, Georgia was staring at a series sweep by the 12th-ranked Gators. Adam Swann was the lone Bulldog to reach base through the first eight frames, drawing a walk in the fourth and breaking up the nohitter with a one-out single in the seventh. Trailing 4-0 in the ninth, the Bulldogs rallied for six runs on five hits and two Florida errors. Jon Armitage started the rally with a leadoff single. Matt Cavender spoiled the shutout with a two-run single. Lee Mitchell tied the game with another two-run single. Clint Sammons provided the go-ahead runscoring single. Then, Jeffrey Carswell and the Bulldogs retired the Gators in the ninth for a 6-4 win!
6 SEC Titles: 1933, 1953, 1954, 2001, 2004, 2008