ATHENS—- The 15th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs battle Georgia Tech Tuesday at SunTrust Park in the 16th annual Farmview Market Spring Classic. First pitch will be at 7:02 p.m. and be available on the SEC Network and the Bulldog Sports Network from IMG.
After winning their latest SEC road series, the Bulldogs (33-14) now turn their attention to Tech (27-21) for the game that benefits Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Georgia clinched the 2018 season series with Tech after posting a 4-0 win in Athens on April 3 and an 8-3 win in Atlanta on April 25. The Bulldogs swept the series in 2017, and the current five-game winning streak is the longest since Georgia won six straight in the series from 1985-87. Georgia leads the all-time series 210-162-1 dating back to 1898. The Bulldogs have won eight of the past nine meetings with Tech.
This is the fifth year for Georgia’s Ike Cousins head baseball coach Scott Stricklin, and the Bulldogs have an RPI of No. 4 and are having their best season since 2009. Georgia is aiming to make its first NCAA Regional since 2011, and the team’s last College World Series appearance came in 2008 when the Bulldogs advanced to the CWS Finals. Georgia is 9-4 against Tech under Stricklin. During the month of April, Georgia became the first SEC team to play an 11-game stretch against ranked opponents, and the Bulldogs went 5-6. The Tech games ends an eight-game swing against non-ranked teams and Georgia is 6-1 during this stretch. The Bulldogs are ranked as high as No. 9 this week.
This will be third time that Georgia has played in SunTrust Park since it opened in 2017. Last year, Georgia and Missouri played the first game open to the public on April 8, and it drew a crowd of 33,025, the second largest in college baseball history. Missouri won 6-1. Then, the Bulldogs completed a sweep of Ga. Tech with a 8-7 victory on May 9th in front of a crowd of 23,737. The 2018 Bulldogs are averaging 6.6 runs a game while batting .287 with a 3.57 ERA and a .978 FLDG%.
On Tuesday, Georgia freshman LHP/OF C.J. Smith (0-0, 0.42 ERA) will make his third career start including second versus Tech this year. He got a no decision on April 25 in Atlanta (4.1 IP, 5H, 1R, 2BB, 2K) as the Bulldogs won 8-3. He hasn’t pitched since then but has seen action in the field including starting this past Saturday in right field at Missouri, going 2-for-5, 2 RBI.
Georgia’s top hitters have been senior outfielder Keegan McGovern (.323-13-40), who is on the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, junior designated hitter Michael Curry (.317-8-43) and junior first baseman Adam Sasser (.343-8-39). McGovern has reached base safely in 35 consecutive games. Sasser has been the team’s leading hitter in SEC action at .381-5-24. Sasser had a monster week in the Mizzou series, batting .538 (7-for-13) with four homers and 10 RBI to earn Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week and SEC Player of the Week honors.
Tuesday Pitching Matchups: Georgia vs. Tech
Tuesday at 7:02 pm ET: C.J. Smith (0-0, 0.42), LHP, Fr. vs. Tristin English (2-2, 4.29), RHP, RSo.
Television/Radio
TV: SEC Network: Sam Ravech & Todd Walker
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
Tickets
-SunTrust Ticket Window, $15, – Gates open at 5 p.m.
-Ticketmaster.com, Link: http://gado.gs/919