First pitch Friday will be at 7:02 p.m. and be streamed online (SEC Network+). The Saturday contest will start at 2:02 p.m. (SEC Network+) while Sunday’s game begins at (12:02 p.m.) and will be televised by the SEC Network. The entire Vanderbilt series will be broadcast on the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network.
At 25-5 overall and an SEC-best 7-2 mark in conference action, the Bulldogs are off to their best start since 2009 when that club was 25-5 (7-2 SEC) after 30 games. Georgia leads the SEC after winning its first three series including two on the road (3-0 at South Carolina, 2-1 vs. No. 10 LSU, 2-1 at Kentucky).
Georgia’s starting pitchers this year are 18-2 with a 2.19 ERA (39 ER in 160 IP). The team ERA is 2.93, and the Bulldogs began the week leading the nation in Fewest Hits Allowed/Per Nine Innings (6.0). The Bulldogs will employ the same rotation as the previous two SEC series: sophomore RHP Emerson Hancock (6-1, 0.98 ERA), who was named a Perfect Game 1st Team Midseason All-American Wednesday, for game one followed by sophomore LHP C.J. Smith (2-1, 2.49 ERA) and junior RHP Tony Locey (4-0, 2.35 ERA). VU will counter with junior RHP Drake Fellows (6-0, 3.59 ERA), senior RHP Patrick Raby (5-0, 1.22 ERA) and freshman RHP Kumar Rocker (2-3, 6.00 ERA).
Georgia concludes a five-game week with a series against the Commodores (23-6, 6-3 SEC). The Bulldogs beat No. 23 Clemson 5-3 Tuesday and concluded a six-game road swing Wednesday with a 7-6 win over Kennesaw State. The top five matchup at Foley Field will be a first since 2009 when No. 1 Georgia faced No. 5 Arkansas (Georgia won the series 2-1). Like the LSU series, all three games against VU are sellouts. In records dating back to 1950, Georgia leads the series with VU 99-95, however the last time the Bulldogs won a series over VU came when they clinched the 2008 SEC title in Nashville. The last series win over VU in Athens was in 2003 as part of a nine-game winning streak in the series. Last year, Georgia took the opener in Nashville 3-2 but dropped the next two contests 5-3 and 8-3. The Commodores feature one of the nation’s best lineups including the SEC’s leading hitter in sophomore Austin Martin (.449-3-16) as well as junior outfielder and projected first rounder JJ Bleday (.353-12-36).
Georgia is fielding .980, which is on pace for a school record. In SEC play, Georgia has been even better. Georgia leads the league with a .991 Fielding Percentage, and that’s with six of the nine games on the road! The Bulldogs have made just three errors in the SEC (1 @USC, 0 vs. No. 10 LSU, 2 @UK). Meanwhile, Vanderbilt is fielding a league-best .983 in 29 games this year but only .970 in SEC action.
GEORGIA vs. VU MATCHUPS
Sophomore RHP Emerson Hancock (6-1, 0.98 ERA) vs. Drake Fellows (6-0, 3.59 ERA), RHP, Jr.
Sophomore LHP C.J. Smith (2-1, 2.49 ERA) vs. Patrick Raby (5-0, 1.22 ERA), RHP, Sr.
Junior RHP Tony Locey (4-0, 2.35 ERA) vs. Kumar Rocker (2-3, 6.00 ERA), RHP, Fr.
In the national polls this week, Georgia is ranked No. 4 in D1Baseball.com top 25 while the Commodores are No. 5
Television/Radio
TV Friday-Saturday: SEC Network+: (Matt Stewart & Jason Jacobs)
Friday Streaming Link with 1st pitch at 7:02 pm: http://www.gado.gs/vsvandyfri
Saturday Streaming Link with 1st pitch at 2:02 pm: http://www.gado.gs/vsvandysat
TV Sunday: SEC Network (Mike Morgan & David Dellucci)
Sunday Link with 1st pitch at 12:02 pm: http://www.gado.gs/vsvandysun
Radio (Entire series): 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: SOLD OUT
-StubHub: gado.gs/bsb0405t
-UGA Student Tickets: Free Admission with valid UGA Student ID Card
-UGA Student Gate is located off Rutherford Street