The 14th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs opened the season with a 4-2 win over the Albany Great Danes Friday at Foley Field.

Graduate Ben Anderson gave the Bulldogs a leadoff home run to put Georgia up 1-0. The last Bulldog to lead off a game with a home run was Tucker Maxwell in 2019 against Florida State. On the mound, junior Jonathan Cannon worked six scoreless innings, giving up only two hits with no walks and four strikeouts for the victory.

“Jonathan was really good and that’s what we need on a Friday night,” said Georgia’s Ike Cousins head baseball coach Scott Stricklin. “Albany was aggressive and swung early. We played good defense behind our pitchers and turned three double plays. I would’ve liked to see us do more offensively but (Ray) Weber was good for them. Bottom line, we got the win.”

With one on and two out in the bottom of the fourth, redshirt senior Joshua McAllister hit a two-run home run to left center for a 3-0 lead. It was his 10th career homer. Sophomore Jaden Woods started the seventh. Albany put runners on second and third with two outs and then retired Will Binder too keep the Great Danes off the scoreboard. Georgia added a run in the seventh on an RBI-single from Cory Acton for a 4-0 advantage.

In the eighth, Albany shortstop Brad Malm connected for a two-run home run to left field to cut the deficit in half. Woods proceeded to strike out the next two batters to end the rally. Senior Jack Gowen took care of the ninth for the Bulldogs to earn a save. Albany starter Ray Weber dropped to 0-1, allowing three runs on three hits with five strikeouts.

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett threw out the ceremonial first pitch after taking batting practice with the Bulldogs. Bennett helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2021 national title.