Georgia Baseball Travels to Statesboro For First Road Test
The Georgia baseball team is ranked 18 in the nation. It will test that evaluation on the road against Georgia Southern this weekend.
More from Georgia Baseball
- Georgia baseball eliminated from NCAA Tournament in heartbreaking loss
- Georgia baseball sees a swift exit from SEC Tournament
- Georgia baseball finds itself with a perfect record
- Georgia baseball: Jonathan Cannon is a top MLB Draft prospect
- Georgia baseball becomes latest team to beat up on Alabama
Fresh off a series win over 11 ranked Florida State in Athens and mid-week shutout of Presbyterian, the 18th-ranked Georgia baseball team (6-1) goes on the road for the first time this season for a weekend series with Georgia Southern.
Last Friday, Georgia dropped the opener to the Seminoles 7-5. The Bulldogs responded by sweeping a doubleheader, winning 4-1 and 10-5, and then blanking the Blue Hose 3-0 to enter the GSU series on a three-game winning streak.
The Eagles are 5-4 after falling twice during midweek contests. Georgia Southern lost a pair of one-run decisions as the Citadel edged GSU 3-2 Tuesday and North Florida recorded a 5-4 victory.
Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia leads the all-times series with GSU 49-41-1. In the last meeting, the Eagles claimed a series to open the 2014 campaign in Athens. After snow pushed back the opener, the teams split a doubleheader (GSU 9-3; UGA 11-3). Then, GSU cruised in game three 18-4.
It is early, but the Dawgs have shown improvement over all of last year’s statistics. Georgia ranks among the SEC leaders offensively, batting .346 with nine homers and 56 RBIs. Last year, Georgia hit just .256 with 13 home runs. This season, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 61-19.
Georgia also sports a 1.86 ERA with 73 strikeouts and 24 walks on the year. In 2014, Georgia’ ERA was 4.33. The Bulldogs have made just four errors on the year (two by pitchers) for a .984 Fielding Percentage compared to .966 last year.
The Bulldogs have three regulars hitting at least .400 in sophomore centerfielder Stephen Wrenn (.423-0-5), sophomore third baseman Trevor Kieboom (.421-1-4), and junior C/1B/DH Zack Bowers (.409-2-7). Kieboom and freshman left fielder Keegan McGovern hit .500 in the FSU series. For the year, McGovern has a team-best .577 on-base percentage with seven walks and only one strikeout. Against FSU, senior first baseman/pitcher Jared Walsh hit .333 with a home run and six RBI plus made a two-inning relief appearance. Sophomore right fielder Skyler Weber (.320-0-7) has hit safely in all seven games this year and nine games total dating back to the 2014 season.
Georgia’s weekend rotation against 11 ranked FSU went 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA, 25 strikeouts and eight walks in 16.1 innings. Junior left hander Ryan Lawlor and junior right hander David Sosebee earned victories while sophomore right hander Robert Tyler did not get a decision. Lawlor tied his career-high with 10 strikeouts in only six innings against the Seminoles. For the year, Lawlor is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts, holding opponents to a .195 batting average. Senior right hander Jared Cheek notched his first save as the bullpen combined for a 2.54 ERA with 12 strikeouts. Sophomore right hander Drew Moody collected six of those strikeouts in two appearances covering three innings. Sophomore left hander Connor Jones picked up his first career save in Tuesday’s win over PC. He entered the game in the ninth with two outs and the bases loaded.
Probable Pitching Matchups For UGA-GSU Series
#22 Robert Tyler (1-0, 3.48), RHP, So. vs. #14 Evan Challenger (1-0, 1.86), LHP, RSo.
#18 Ryan Lawlor (2-0, 2.25), LHP, Jr. vs. #40 Tripp Sheppard (0-1, 8.31), RHP, Sr.
#30 David Sosebee (2-0, 1.64), RHP, Jr. vs. #36 Connor Simmons (1-0, 2.00), LHP, Fr.
Radio: Georgia Bulldog Sports Network from IMG College
Play-by-Play: Jeff Dantzler & David Johnston
Stations: 960 AM-WRFC and selected affiliates (check your local listings), georgiadogs.com; Sunday on WGAU AM 1340
TV: ESPN3
ESPN3 Link For Georgia-Ga. Southern Series
Friday at 6 pm
Saturday at 2 pm
Sunday at 1 pm