BASEBALL
Georgia 6, Clemson 4

CLEMSON, S.C. – It was a pair of transfers making the difference offensively for the Georgia baseball team Wednesday, as the Diamond Dogs completed a sweep of its two-game series with Clemson via a 6-4 win.

After junior transfer Adam Fuller’s two-run shot tied the game in the fifth, Bryce Massanari, another junior who relocated to Athens before the season, hit the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh.

“It feels good to contribute to the team, and I’m glad for Adam,” said Massanari, a transfer from Las Vegas. “That kid can really hit, and it’s just a matter of time before he starts doing it.”

The home run was the first as a Bulldog for Fuller, who transferred from Andrew College in Cuthbert prior to the season. He’s seen action in 18 games this year, including 10 starts, but is batting just .200.

“(The home run) was a huge lift for him individually,” coach Dave Perno said. “It’ll take some pressure off of him, and he’s capable. He had a good game last night, but he got over the hump tonight and hopefully he can keep rolling.”

Massanari, who’s now hitting .299 on the season, has played in 25 of the Diamond Dogs’ 27 games, both as catcher and as the designated hitter. His two-out single Wednesday marked his 21st RBI of the year.

“Massanari has been clutch all year in those moments,” Perno said.

“You’re about ready to throw him away after his first at-bat, you’re like, ‘Why did you even go up there?’ But he can overcome it. I guess that’s the Vegas in him.”

Like much of the season, the Bulldogs jumped on top early Wednesday.

Sophomore first baseman Rich Poythress hit his seventh homer of his season in the first, a two-run shot.

The Diamond Dogs now have out-scored opponents 44-13 in the first inning this year. They only scored 39 runs during the opening inning in all of the 2007 season.

Senior Joshua Fields came in to get the final three outs, sealing his seventh save of the season. The right-handed flamethrower has yet to allow an earned run this year, and now has 30 career saves, tying him for second all-time at Georgia.

After sweeping the Tigers for the first time since 2005, the Diamond Dogs (17-10, 6-3 SEC) return to conference action this weekend, hosting No. 10 South Carolina. With several teams bunched at the top of the SEC East, the Diamond Dogs know the importance of every league game.

“We’ve got to have them,” Massanari said. “We win two games, we’re up there at second or third [in the conference], if we lose, we’re back at the bottom in fourth, fifth or sixth. It’s a big weekend.”