Box Score Box Score

ATHENS, GA --  Peter Verdin singled home Brandon Stephens with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the ninth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs a one-run lead, and would hold on to defeat the Winthrop Eagles 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at Foley Field in game two of a three-game series.

The Eagles fall to 0-6 on the season, while the Bulldogs improve to 6-0 overall.

Stephens led off Georgia's bottom of the eighth inning with an infield single against Winthrop reliever Tyler Klitsch, and then went to second on a single to left field by Curt Powell.

Bryan Benzor (2-0) earned the win in relief pitching 2.0 scoreless innings and gave up no hits, no walks and one strikeout. Klitsch (0-1) took the loss surrendering one run on three hits, no walks and one strikeout in one-third of an inning in relief. Eagle starter Eric Ruth tossed a career-high 7.0 innings in his second start of the season and allowed one run on three hits, one walk and six strikeouts.

Pitching for both teams controlled the first four innings of the game as there was a combined one hit allowed, which came from Winthrop catcher Tyler Donovan in the top of the third inning.

Donovan would factor into the first run of the contest in the fifth inning as his second straight hit, a single, drove home Chad Smith from second base with one out. Smith reached base after hitting into a fielder's choice, and then moved to second on a wild pitch by the Bulldogs starting pitcher Michael Palazzone.

Georgia answered back in their half of the fifth to tie the game at 1-1 on an RBI double to left field by Nelson Ward with one out. Brett DeLoach scored on Ward's double after leading off the inning with an infield single.

Donovan finished the game with a team-high two hits, while Leighton Daniels collected the other hit for Winthrop. Six different Bulldog hitters posted one hit each, while Verdin and Ward had one RBI apiece.

The two teams will wrap up their three-game series on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m.