ATHENS, Ga. (Interstat) — Kolby Branch broke out of a prolonged slump in emphatic fashion, crushing two home runs and driving in five runs to power the Georgia Bulldogs to a 13-5 victory over the Queens (N.C.) Royals in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader at Foley Field.

The Bulldogs, who won their sixth straight game and improved to 13-3, overcame an early five-run deficit with a six-run third inning, highlighted by Branch’s grand slam. The senior shortstop entered the game mired in an 0-for-15 skid over his previous four contests but delivered the decisive blow to erase the Royals’ surprising early lead.

Queens, which fell to 4-10, stunned the home crowd by batting around and plating five runs in the top of the second inning against Georgia starter Caden Aoki. The Royals strung together five hits in the frame, including a two-run double by Hunter Huneycutt and RBI singles from Mike Brunetti and Mathayus Tatum. The inning was aided by two sacrifice hits, a strategic hallmark for the visitors.

Georgia’s offense, which had been held scoreless on just one hit through two innings by Queens starter Joseph Ruller, erupted in the bottom of the third. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with one out on a hit-by-pitch and two singles before Corey O’Shaughnessy and Anthony Lujo delivered RBI hits to cut the deficit to 5-2. After a walk re-loaded the bases, Branch stepped to the plate and launched a 1-0 offering over the center field wall for a grand slam, giving Georgia a 6-5 lead it would not relinquish.

The Bulldogs added to their lead in the fifth on a solo home run by Henry Allen and extended it with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings. The game was put out of reach in the bottom of the seventh when Branch led off with his second homer of the day, a solo shot to center. Three batters later, catcher Daniel Jackson followed with a solo homer of his own. After a hit batter, Allen doubled in a run, and pinch-hitter Ryan Wynn capped the four-homer inning for Georgia with a two-run blast to make it 13-5.

The offensive outburst made a winner of reliever Justin Byrd, who was brilliant in relief of Aoki. Byrd entered with two on and one out in the sixth and induced an inning-ending double play. He then worked three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out four to earn the victory. Teddy Brennan pitched a perfect ninth to seal the win.

Ruller took the loss for Queens, allowing seven earned runs on four hits and four walks over 4 1/3 innings. The Royals managed nine hits in the game but stranded nine runners and went just 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position after their big second inning.

The victory continued Georgia’s dominance in the weekend series after a 12-2 win on Friday. The Bulldogs’ 13-run, 12-hit performance exceeded the projection of Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 7-3 Georgia win. The Bulldogs entered the game with a 92.6% win probability according to the same service’s ELO ratings.

The teams were set to conclude the doubleheader and the three-game series later Saturday afternoon.