UGA vs USC Baseball Series Preview – Georgia continues a 22-game stretch against ranked opponents by playing host to second-ranked South Carolina in an SEC series starting Friday at7 p.m. at Foley Field.
The Bulldogs (18-16, 4-8 SEC) will be looking for their third straight series win over the Gamecocks (28-6, 10-2 SEC). Under coach Scott Stricklin, the Bulldogs are 4-2 against South Carolina. Georgia claimed a series over then No. 7 South Carolina last year in Columbia, winning two games to one. It was Georgia’s first series win there since 1994 and first over a top 10 SEC team on the road since 2006. In 2014, Georgia also won a series over No. 7 USC 2-1 in Athens.
USC leads the all-time series with the Bulldogs 58-42. Last weekend, USC swept a home series over Tennessee for an SEC-best 10-2 league mark while the Bulldogs were swept by #3 Texas A&M in College Station. The Friday and Sunday games of the SEC series will be available on SEC Network+. There is no television on Saturday due to G-Day Spring Football.
This season, the Bulldogs are 4-7 against ranked teams this year. Georgia is batting .253 with an ERA of 4.51 and fielding .967. In SEC action, the Bulldogs are hitting .272 with a 6.48 ERA and fielding .958.
Junior C/OF Skyler Weber is batting a team-best .318-1-19 and his 47 hits put him among the SEC leaders. Sophomore left fielder Keegan McGovern, who has started all 34 games this season, saw his on base streak end at a team-high 23 games after going 0-for-3 Sunday against No. 3 Texas A&M (26-7, 7-5 SEC). He bounced back Tuesday by going 2-for-4 with an RBI in the 3-1 win over Tech in Atlanta. McGovern ranks among the SEC leaders in walks with 29 and is batting .275-5-25. Georgia slugged a pair of home runs last Sunday against the Aggies, getting them from senior shortstop Nick King (.271-1-10) and junior centerfielderStephen Wrenn (.269-2-16). Georgia has hit 23 home runs on the year and the last 14 have been solo shots. In SEC action, King is batting a team-high .357.
On the mound, Georgia is led by junior RHP Robert Tyler (3-2, 2.78 ERA). The SEC rotation last weekend featured Tyler, junior LHP Connor Jones (4-2, 5.73 ERA) and sophomore LHP Bo Tucker (3-3, 3.14 ERA). For the USC series, Georgia will go Tyler and Jones for the first two games and TBA on Sunday. USC will counter with a rotation of senior RHP Clarke Schmidt (7-1, 1.77 ERA), freshman RHP Branden Webb (7-1, 2.17 ERA) and freshman RHP Adam Hill (5-0, 2.87 ERA).
About The Gamecocks
South Carolina, who is led by Chad Holbrook, steadily has moved up the rankings following a 10-0 start to the regular season and entered conference play with a 17-2 mark. They have roared out to a 10-2 SEC record including sweeping then No. 13 Arkansas and Tennessee at home and No. 6 Ole Miss in Oxford. The Gamecocks lost a road series 2-1 at No. 3 Vanderbilt. USC saw its five-game winning streak snap Wednesday after a 15-0 loss to No. 13 North Carolina in Charlotte at BB&T Ballpark. Overall, USC is batting .297 with an ERA of 2.97 and fielding .979. In SEC play, the Gamecocks are hitting .278 with a 3.65 ERA and fielding .981. Junior OF Gene Cone (.324-1-9) enters the series with a 20-game hitting streak. The Gamecocks feature of the nation’s top closers in junior LHP Josh Reagan (1-0, 0.31 ERA, 10 SV).
Follow The Action: Here are the video links for the series:
Friday vs. #2 USC, 7 pm (SEC Network+)
http://es.pn/1TCjhoc
Note: Sat vs. #2 USC, 6 pm — No TV due to G-Day game
Sunday vs. #2 USC, 1 pm (SEC Network+)
http://es.pn/23c8UNU
Radio
Georgia Bulldog Sports Network from IMG College (David Johnston/Jeff Dantzler)
Stations: 960 AM-WRFC and selected affiliates (check your local listings), georgiadogs.com and via the Georgia Bulldogs app and TuneIn app.
Additional Coverage on Twitter: @BaseballUGA
Foley Field Ticket Information
Reserved Seat Tickets: $8; General Admission Tickets: $5; Order online or by calling 1-877-542-1231
UGA Student Tickets: Free Admission with valid UGA Student ID Card; Note: UGA Student Gate is located off Rutherford Street; Foley Field Ticket Booth opens two hours before game time.
Promotions For USC Series
On Friday, the first 500 UGA students receive a “Beat SC” t-shirt.
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