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ATHENS, GA - First-year Tennessee coach Todd Raleigh is getting rather sick of this Gordon Beckham fellow. Georgia's junior shortstop has single-handedly cost the Vols a win in their season's second SEC series.

Beckham hit a game-winning two-run single in the fifth inning off starter Bryan Morgado and Georgia held on for a 3-2 win on Saturday at Foley Field.

Beckham, who went 2-for-3 with two homers and three RBIs in Friday's series opener, was back at it again on Saturday. His shot through the left side of the infield spoiled what was an otherwise efficient outing for Morgado (3-2).

"He's seeing the ball like a grapefruit right now," said Morgado, who gave up three runs on four hits in 6<0x00BA> innings of work. "He's been huge. When a guy is hitting .530 with 13 home runs, he's hard to get out."

Tennessee jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second after designated hitter Jeff Lockwood took Georgia starter Stephen Dodson (3-1) some 500 feet to straightaway center field for a solo homer.

Four batters later, first baseman Tanner Moore lined an RBI double to right-center field to score P.J. Polk, but Tennessee wouldn't score again.

"I thought we hit the ball hard against (Dodson) and it just seemed that everything we hit against him was right at everybody," Raleigh said. "He wasn't overpowering."

For a time Morgado was, as he comfortably cruised around Georgia's lineup with a good mix of fastballs and off-speed pitches. Georgia first baseman Rich Poythress homered off Morgado in the fourth, and Beckham's single in the fifth was all Georgia would need.

"He pitched well and that's all you can ask for," Raleigh said. "We out-hit Georgia, and they made more errors. They weren't overpowering."

Tennessee had a chance in the ninth off Georgia closer Joshua Fields. Fields left a fastball over the middle and Polk (2-for-4) drove it into the gap for a triple with one out. Fields recovered and got the last two outs, earning his fifth save of the season.

But it was Beckham who had Raleigh frustrated after the game, as he assured the Vols of their first SEC series loss of the season.

"He's the best player in America," Raleigh said. "And right now, he's so locked in and it's not just offensively, but defensively. He took three or four hits away from us today and he's so quick to get to the ball.

"I am frustrated with him right now. I wish he wasn't playing tomorrow."

Tennessee will look to salvage a piece of the series when it sends left-hander Nick Hernandez (0-1, 4.95 ERA) to the mound today. Georgia will counter with Nathan Moreau, who has given up five earned runs in 22<0x00AA> innings this season.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.