A career-high nine strikeouts and zero walks in six innings of work from Diamond Dogs’ junior ace Justin Grimm wasn’t enough to lift Georgia past the visiting Auburn Tigers (13-5, 2-0 SEC), as Georgia (8-11, 0-2 SEC) dropped the second game of the three game weekend series 4-3.

Georgia pitcher Justin Grimm struck out nine in six innings of work, but Auburn held on to win 4-3 Saturday. Photo by ASHLEY STRICKLAND

“They’re young and we’re in it with them and we’ve got to work through it but it’s not a ‘try hard’ league,” said Georgia head coach David Perno following Saturday’s loss. “You’ve got to perform and you’ve got to play when it matters and you’ve got to get hits when it matters, you’ve got to make plays when it matters, you’ve got to make pitches when it matters and right now we don’t have enough pieces doing it.”

In what seems to have become a recurring theme for Georgia this season, the Bulldogs found themselves in a first inning jam Saturday afternoon, this time because of poor defensive play.

A chopper from Auburn center fielder Creede Simpson was bobbled by shortstop Levi Hyams and Hyams’ throw to first baseman Robert Shipman was off the mark, allowing Simpson to reach first safely. Simpson stole second, before a single from Hunter Morris advanced Simpson to third.

With two outs and runners on second and third, a wild pitch from Grimm over the head over Georgia catcher Christian Glisson allowed the Tigers to jump on the scoreboard first 1-0.

The Georgia batters struggled to find their swings early against Auburn starter Cole Nelson, who struck out five Bulldogs and gave up just four hits in 5.1 innings of work.

The Tigers jumped ahead 3-0 in the fourth thanks to a two-out, two-run home run sent sailing over the left field wall by Auburn’s Ryan Jenkins.

After the Tigers added one more run to their tally in the sixth to take a 4-0 lead, the Bulldog batters finally woke up in the bottom half of the sixth.

After a leadoff walk from left fielder Johnathan Taylor, a Peter Verdin single and a subsequent stolen base, the Bulldogs were in prime scoring position with no outs and runners on second and third.

A sacrifice groundout from Shipman scored Taylor and then a two-out single up the middle from Colby May brought Verdin home to cut the Auburn lead to 4-2.

The Bulldogs added another run in the seventh on a bases loaded walk by Auburn pitcher Austin Hubbard to move within one run of the Tigers.

Georgia had their chances to win in the ninth, after a two-out double from Verdin brought Shipman to the plate, who represented the winning run.

However, Shipman failed to deliver, going down swinging to give the Tigers a 2-0 series lead.

“Just look at today, I mean Grimm came out here and had a great start, threw strikes and he only gave up three runs,” said Verdin. “That’s what it’s all about and if we have another start like that tomorrow and we can pick up our bats a little bit, there’s no telling and I think we’ll be right back on track.”

The Bulldogs will try to avoid the home sweep Sunday against the Tigers at Foley Field, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.