First pitch Wednesday versus the Panthers (4-11) is slated for 5 p.m., and the game will be available via the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network. Georgia State’s PantherVision will video stream the game online, however a subscription is required. Click on the link below to learn more: http://www.gado.gs/1un
Georgia’s entire series with the Gamecocks (13-3) will be available on SEC Network+ and the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network.
The Bulldogs (14-2) are ranked in all the major polls this week, ranking from No. 8 to 15. Wednesday’s pitching matchup will feature Bulldog junior right-hander Tim Elliott (1-1, 0.75 ERA) versus junior left-hander Tyler Koch (0-1, 19.89 ERA). Elliott tossed six innings, allowing one run on three hits with a career-high seven strikeouts in his last outing, an 11-3 win over Alabama State March 5 in Athens.
TWIBB NOTES (This Week In Bulldog Baseball)
Current Rankings: #8 D1Baseball.com; #9 NCBWA; #13 Collegiate Baseball; #11 USA Today; #15 Baseball America
Team Notes:
*Georgia’s starting pitchers are a combined 12-1 with a 1.94 ERA, and the lone defeat came 1-0 on an unearned run.
*The Bulldogs are batting .308 with 20 home runs and a .434 on base percentage (all 2nd in the SEC) and a .502 slugging percentage (3rd in the SEC). They are fielding .976 (6th in the SEC).
*Georgia owns a 41-7 edge in the series history with the Panthers. Last year, Georgia won 12-2 at Ga. State while the game in Athens was rained out. The Panthers are slated to play Georgia Southwestern Tuesday.
Individual Lineup Notes:
*Junior CF Tucker Maxwell (.349-4-20) had a monster week to earn Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week, Perfect Game/Rawlings College Player of the Week and SEC Player of the Week honors, it was announced Monday. In five games last week, he batted .563 (9-for-16) and slugged 1.250 with two doubles, three home runs, 15 RBI and eight stolen bases. He tied a school record with four stolen bases in a game, doing it against Alabama State on March 5, then tied the mark again March 9 versus Presbyterian.
*Senior preseason All-SEC 2B LJ Talley ranks among the SEC leaders in batting at .446 with a .679 slugging percentage and a .543 on base percentage. He has hit three home runs with 12 RBI this year in 16 starts plus is perfect in the field in 53 chances. Currently, he has a career-high nine-game hitting streak.
*Preseason All-America 3B/Closer Aaron Schunk is 5-for-5 in save opportunities. He has not allowed a run in six appearances, spanning six innings with no walks and five strikeouts. He has started all 16 games at third base and batted .328 with 13 RBI and a team-leading four home runs.
*Junior SS Cam Shepherd (.310-1-11) leads the SEC with 18 walks and is fielding .982.
*Redshirt freshman OF/DH Chaney Rogers (.214-0-0) has an older brother, Jake, who is a senior pitcher on the Georgia State squad. Jake is in the weekend rotation and is 1-2 with a 5.89 ERA in four starts. Chaney has appeared in 11 games with four starts for the Bulldogs.
*Junior starting LF Tucker Bradley is now out for the season after undergoing successful surgery Tuesday to repair his right (non-throwing) shoulder. He is expected to make a full recovery and return next fall. He was injured on Feb. 16 against Dayton while diving for a catch. Bradley is a career .303 hitter with 19 stolen bases. He has appeared in 101 games with 97 starts in the outfield and also pitched in relief as a freshman. Since Bradley’s injury, the Bulldogs have looked at various options in left field. Freshman Randon Jernigan (.406-0-6, 5 SB) has started in left field the past five games, and hit .417 (7-for-17) with seven runs scored and two RBI in that span.
Television/Radio
TV: PantherVision (subscription required)
Radio: Georgia Bulldog Sports Network from IMG College (David Johnston & Jeff Dantzler)
Stations: 960 AM-WRFC and selected affiliates (check your local listings), also via the Georgia Bulldogs app and TuneIn app.
Additional Coverage on Twitter: @BaseballUGA