Wes Johnson details where Georgia needs to improve amid potential Super Regional-clinching game

Georgia is looking to advance to the Super Regionals in their matchup against rival Georgia Tech on Sunday. Finding themselves down 5-2 early after just two innings as the Yellow Jackets look to hand the Bulldogs their first loss of the Athens Regional and force a winner-take-all final on Monday.

Bulldogs head coach Wes Johnson gathered his team together following the second inning after his squad gave up four runs. And on the ESPN+ broadcast of Sunday’s matchup, Johnson was asked what his message to the team was.

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“We didn’t come out and play Georgia baseball, we made a few mistakes in the outfield there,” Johnson said. “Just guys, no need to hit the panic button. It’s a long game. Baseball’s a long, long game and there’s a reason it takes three hours, right? So I just [said] don’t give at bats away, start executing pitches a little better, and let’s see what we can do.”

Johnson was also asked about what Georgia needs to do against Yellow Jackets’ pitcher Mason Patel. Who has done a solid job of stifling Georgia’s high-powered offense through four innings after giving up two runs in the first.

“Yeah we just gotta push him off in the zone. I thought hey, this game’s crazy, right? I mean we got him on the ropes a little bit in the first [inning] and then a ball bounces off the net, they throw us out at third you, so that’s just it. You gotta push him up and get off your A-swing,” Johnson explained.

Georgia wound up doing exactly what Johnson preached in the fifth inning, with an RBI single from star Charlie Condon forcing a pitching change for Georgia Tech. With Ben King taking over on the mound after Patel gave up his third run of the game in what was his longest performance on the mound of the season.

On the flip side, Johnson spoke on what his own pitcher Zach Harris needs to do in order to help the Bulldogs come back in the game after a rough second inning.

“I mean Zach’s gotta really execute. When he gets into leverage counts he has to execute, expand pitches, and we’re not doing a very good job of that right now. And hey, tip your hat to Georgia Tech,” Johnson added. “When you make mistakes in leverage counts over the play, it typically gets hit hard.”

Georgia scored just one run after loading up the bases during the top of the fifth inning, closing the gap to 5-3 in Athens with their sights set on hosting Super Regionals.