Photo: Greg Poole/Bulldawg Illustrated
Georgia (15-11, 2-4 SEC) begins the toughest stretch of its 2016 schedule with the next 22 games coming against ranked opponents. It starts with No. 21 Alabama (15-9, 4-2 SEC) Thursday at Foley Field, and the SEC Network will televise the entire series which concludes Saturday.
Georgia enters the Alabama series batting .251, scoring an average of 4.8 runs a game while posting an ERA of 4.23. Alabama is batting .252, scoring 4.4 runs a game and features one of the league’s top pitching staffs with an ERA of 2.80. Georgia went 1-2 against Kentucky in Athens to open league play and then 1-2 at #10 Miss. State. Alabama captured a road series over No. 6 LSU and a home set with Tennessee for its 4-2 mark.
After the UA series, the Bulldogs face #14 Clemson, #1 Texas A&M, #19 Ga. Tech, #2 South Carolina, #1 Florida, #3 Vanderbilt and #11 Ole Miss (current highest national ranking). Both Georgia and Alabama enter this SEC series having dropped their midweek contest. The Bulldogs fell 4-2 to Kennesaw State at Foley Field as the Owls gained a split in the two-game series. Auburn crushed the Crimson Tide 10-1 in a non-conference affair at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery.
Here are the Georgia vs. Alabama pitching matchups and video links for the series:
Thursday at 7:02 pm ET (SEC Network)
UGA: Kevin Smith (3-1, 4.33 ERA), LHP, Fr. vs. UA: Geoffrey Bramblett (3-0, 1.42 ERA)
Friday at 7:02 pm ET (SEC Network)
UGA: Robert Tyler (2-1, 2.78 ERA), RHP, Jr. vs. UA: Jake Walters (2-2, 2.73), RHP, So.
Saturday at 12:02 pm ET (SEC Network)
UGA: TBA vs. UA: Nick Eicholtz (1-0, 0.50 ERA), RHP, Jr.
Upcoming Series Fast Facts
In records dating back to 1950, Alabama leads the series with UGA 48-33 including winning a series 2-1 last year played at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Ala. The Crimson Tide last visited Athens in 2013, and it swept Georgia. The Bulldogs are led by Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin, who is in his third season in Athens. Under Stricklin, Georgia is 1-2 against Alabama. Alabama head coach Mitch Gaspard is in his seventh season at the helm.
TV: SEC Network + (Tues); SEC Network: (Thurs.-Sat.)
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 for Georgia vs. Alabama: $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 This Weekend
Saturday: Top Gun Day, First 750 fans receive a free Georgia Top Gun t-shirt; Postgame: Fans are invited to watch movie on the video board; Kids Run the Bases; Autographs with the Bulldogs.