ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia blasted four home runs and a trio of pitchers combined on a two-hitter as the Bulldogs opened the 2024 season and the Wes Johnson era with a 12-2 win over UNC Asheville Friday at Foley Field.
The Bulldogs (1-0) got a pair of home runs from junior Slate Alford, a two-run shot by senior Fernando Gonzalez and a pinch-hit two run blast by graduate Dylan Goldstein. It was plenty of offense for graduate Charlie Goldstein who matched his career-high of seven strikeouts in four innings of work to pick up a win. He allowed just one hit, a solo home run by Robbie Burnett, and issued two walks, to set the tone for the staff.
"We put in a lot of work; these guys were excited, and we had to settle down and go play some baseball," said Johnson. "After the game, the players congratulated me on my first win, but I told them, all that means is I have great players. We work hard and these are talented guys."
Georgia sophomore Kolten Smith followed with three innings, surrendering a solo home run to Corbin Lanowitz in the sixth while striking out five. Sophomore Jarvis Evans provided two scoreless innings with two strikeouts to close out the victory. Asheville starter Cole Schiff went three innings and allowed one run on two hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Brett Johnson got the loss, surrendering six runs on four hits over 2.2 innings.
Preseason All-America Charlie Condon finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and two walks. He smashed a double in the fifth that registered an exit velocity of 118 miles per hour. He was on when Goldstein made it 5-1 in the fifth with a home run. Alford tied the game in the third with his first home run and added a two-run shot as part of a four-run seventh. Gonzalez put Georgia in front for good when he smacked his home run in the fourth to break a 1-1 tie.
The series resumes Saturday with first pitch slated for 3:02 p.m.
