Wes Johnson explains Georgia's pitching plan vs. LSU in SEC Tournament opener

What’s that saying about best laid plans for mice and men? That they never seem to go the way you think. Well, Georgia baseball coach Wes Johnson certainly had to throw his pitching plan out the window early on vs. LSU in the Dawgs’ SEC Tournament opener.

Georgia starting pitcher Jarvis Evans lasted one third of an inning after loading the bases, allowing a two-RBI single, and then loading the bases again for Christian Mracna, who came in and delivered the final two outs to escape a further mess. He did allow another run in the second and fifth innings, but still provided the long relief UGA needed after the first inning debacle.

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Midway through the game, the SEC Network broadcast spoke to Coach Johnson about his strategy for the pitching rotation after a quick exit from his starter.

“Yeah, you know, hopefully we’ll be able to stretch (Mracna) for another inning and, you know, we’ll start thinking about our bullpen,” he commented in the fourth inning.

Sure, Mracna has given up a couple runs and been punished on some LSU at bats, but with the unforeseen move in the first inning, Johnson knows you can’t get too upset about your relievers giving up runs in such a tight spot.

“There’s no manual to overcome bad starts, so you got to believe in your guys, you got to know they’re going to give up one or two when they come into a situation like that. And, you know, Christian’s done it, he’s kind of settled the game down. Now, we just got to get off some good swings.”

Georgia’s own offense certainly didn’t come out punching like it has in the team’s best performances throughout the year. They did earn back one run in the bottom of the second inning but otherwise had a tough time with LSU starter Gage Jump.

“Yeah, I think we’re missing some fastballs that we should be on. He’s doing a good job of mixing in an occasional slider or curveball and keeping us a little off balance. He’s moving the fastball around,” Johnson praised of Jump. “But hey, we’re going to get into that box, compete, and we are going to not chase.”

Like most baseball coaches, Wes Johnson isn’t panicking after a less-than-ideal start, but he knows the bats need to wake up for Georgia if they want any prayer of keeping up with the Tigers.