OMAHA, Neb. – After the 100th batter of the night, Rich Poythress, popped out to end the game, the final score of 19-10 resembled a football score more than a baseball score. And Georgia head coach David Perno, agreed.

“We had a tough time defending the post-pattern across the middle,” he said. “And we missed a late extra point.”

Even with the offensive-minded Mark Richt watching from the press box, the Georgia Bulldogs couldn’t muster the offense to overcome the possessed bunch from Fresno State.

“I thought we mishandled the third inning,” Perno said of the beginning of the end for his team, when Fresno scored six runs, three courtesy of a home run from third baseman Tommy Mendonca. “I wasn’t upset that we pitched to him, I just think (Georgia starter Nick Montgomery) threw his third best pitch. And you can’t do that to him, he’s too good of a hitter.”

After taking a five-run lead heading into the bottom of the third, Georgia’s pitching staff began to fall apart. It took four pitchers just to make it from inning three to inning six, while allowing 15 runs in the process. Fresno used just three pitchers for the entire game.

“It was tough,” Georgia shortstop Gordon Beckham said of watching the other Bulldogs round the bases. “Fresno State had the merry-go-round or circus or whatever you want to call it going around the bases all night.

“They’re a good team,” he added. “I told y’all last night that anybody that thinks they’re out of it is crazy.”

POWER OUTAGE

After playing a little home run derby during in Athens, the Georgia offense has displayed very little in the power department. Only three balls have made it into the people thus far in Omaha – two by third baseman Ryan Peisel and the other by Beckham – but the Dogs aren’t concerned.

“Home runs are always a big boost for a team, but I’m not really worried,” said first baseman Rich Poythress, who tied the record for sacrifice flys in a College World Series game with two. “Home runs are always good to fix the offense, but I’m not sure its bothering us. We are still scoring runs so it’s not really a problem. I felt like offensively we played well, we just didn’t have enough tonight to stop them.”

It’s déj� vu all over again

After breezing through its bracket and putting up five runs early, it seemed Georgia was coasting towards a national championship. Alas, it was not to be, as Fresno pounded the Georgia pitcher after Georgia pitcher, sending the series to a deciding game three.

It will be the last game of the season, with one team jumping for joy, and the other weeping in sadness. But it is a situation that both Bulldogs have excelled in.

Both are 5-0 in elimination games this postseason and something’s gotta give.

“I think it helped us a little,” Beckham said of his team’s success. “But they are 5-0 too, so it’s not like they haven’t been there before either. It’s gonna be a dog-fight. I know its cliché but its going to be a great game to watch tomorrow.”