Daily Dawg Thread: April 07, 2023

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Softball: UGA climbs to 30-7 with a 4-3 win over Arkansas

Junior Jayda Kearney’s seventh-inning three-run home run lifted 14^th-ranked Georgia to 4-3 comeback victory over No. 8 Arkansas Thursday evening at Bogle Park.

Georgia climbs to 30-7 in 2023 and 10-2 in SEC play.

Junior Madison Kerpics pitched three innings in her start, allowing three runs on four hits. Sophomore Kylie Macy (3-1) earned the victory in relief. Macy pitched four hitless, shutout innings, striking out seven and walking one.

Georgia’s offense out-hit the Razorbacks 7-4 in the contest, led by two hits from Sara Mosley. Kearney’s seventh-inning home run was her team-leading 14^th of the season.

Two outs, two strikes, no problem 💣 #Team27 | #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/oTsQuyCGg5
— Georgia Softball (@UGASoftball) April 7, 2023

Arkansas’ (27-10, 8-5) Cylie Halvorson hit a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the first to put the Razorbacks on the board, 2-0. It was the first home run the Georgia pitching staff has allowed since March 17 at Texas A&M.

The Dawgs produced a run in the bottom of the third to cut the Arkansas lead in half. Marisa Miller led off with a hit to right. She was bunted to second by Ellie Armistead, then went to third on a bunt for a hit by Dallis Goodnight. Mosley doubled down the left field line to plate Miller, 2-1.

The Razorbacks got the run back in the bottom of the inning on a two-out double from Kacie Hoffmann, going back in front by two, 3-1.

Looking to rally in the seventh, Armistead reached on a one-out single, then Mosley singled through the right side with two out. Down to her final strike, Kearney lined a shot to right, over the wall for a three-run home run to give Georgia a 4-3 lead.

Macy retired the Razorbacks in order in the bottom of the inning en route to the win.

The Bulldogs and Razorbacks square off in game two of the series Friday evening at Bogle Park. First pitch is set for 7 p.m., ET, streaming live on SEC Network+.

WTennis: Georgia tops South Carolina 4-1

Watch a fullscreen slideshow HERE.

The fifth-ranked University of Georgia women’s tennis team defeated No. 27 South Carolina 4-1 on Thursday afternoon at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, in Southeastern Conference action.

In doubles, Georgia (16-4, 9-1 SEC) took two of three from South Carolina (12-7, 7-3 SEC). On court two, No. 50 Meg Kowalski and Mell Reasco cruised to a 6-2 win over Elise Mills and Gracie Mulville. The Gamecocks responded, taking court one in a tiebreaker. No. 48 Ayana Akli and Sarah Hamner outlasted Ania Hertel and Ania Hertel 7-6(4). The doubles point came down to another tiebreaker on court three. Despite trailing 2-5, No. 40 Guillermina Grant and Mai Nirundorn came back to top Ana Cruz and Allie Gretkowski 7-6(3) to clinch the doubles point.

In singles play, the Bulldogs won three matches. No. 9 Vidmanova dominated No. 19 Sarah Hamner 6-1, 6-2. The Gamecocks responded with a straight-set win on court three to cut the match score to 2-1. Georgia answered with another straight-set win on court six as Grant topped Alice Otis 6-2, 7-5. No. 125 Kowalski provided the final punch for the Bulldogs, defeating Elise Mills 7-6(4), 6-2 to clinch the win.

Up next, Georgia wraps up its home slate against the Florida Gators on Easter Sunday at 1 p.m. Graduate Meg Kowalski and seniors Ania Hertel and Lea Ma will be honored prematch on Sunday during senior day festivities.

Results

Doubles Results

1. #48 Ayana Akli/Sarah Hamner (SC) def. Ania Hertel/Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) 7-6 (7-4)

2. #50 Meg Kowalski/Mell Reasco (UGA) def. Gracie Mulville/Elise Mills (SC) 6-2

3. #40 Guillermina Grant/Mai Nirundorn (UGA) def. Allie Gretkowski/Ana Cruz (SC) 7-6 (7-3)

Singles Results

1. #3 Lea Ma (UGA) vs. #8 Ayana Akli (SC) 3-6, 6-4, 0-0, unfinished

2. #9 Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) def. #19 Sarah Hamner (SC) 6-1, 6-2

3. Gracie Mulville (SC) def. #56 Mell Reasco (UGA) 6-3, 6-4

4. #72 Anastasiia Lopata (UGA) vs. Misa Malkin (SC) 3-6, 6-5, unfinished

5. #125 Meg Kowalski (UGA) def. Elise Mills (SC) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2

6. Guillermina Grant (UGA) def. Alice Otis (SC) 6-2, 7-5

Video/Transcript: Amarius Mims and Tykee Smith Interviews – April 06, 2023

#65 Amarius Mims | Jr. | OL

On the progression of spring practice…

“Everything has been pretty good. It’s a little bit of a tight schedule, but other than that, everybody is improving and on the right track. It’s going good.”

On his growth last season…

“I would say my improvement came from sitting back and watching the guys in front of me. Just the relationship that I have with Broderick [Jones], Warren [McClendon] and Jamaree [Salyer] and watching them. They were teaching me the things that I know now, and they allowed me to grow in a lot of areas on and off the field.”

On starting in the Peach Bowl versus Ohio State…

“You would be surprised. It wasn’t really me being nervous, it was more like ‘I know what I have to do, so I just have to go out here and execute.’”

#23 Tykee Smith | Sr. | DB

On being healthy this spring…

“It’s definitely a blessing to be out there and go through spring because I have never gone through spring before fully healthy. It helps me get the confidence back, so that’s definitely been the biggest thing.”

On adjustments he has made this spring…

“It’s definitely a little different because I’ve never been through a spring. Getting another time and another phase to learn the defense more to gain more confidence in me.”

On what he learned through his injury process…

“Basically, I just learned patience and just trusting that the plans that are planned for me are bigger than the plans I had planned for myself. Basically, the biggest thing I learned was patience.”

MTennis: Dawgs play final two road matches of the regular season this weekend

The seventh-ranked University of Georgia men’s tennis team will play in its final two road matches of the regular season this weekend, heading to Columbia on Friday to take on No. 5 South Carolina at 6 p.m. ET and to Gainesville on Sunday to battle against No. 20 Florida at noon.

#7 Georgia (14-5, 8-0 SEC) vs. #5 South Carolina (17-3, 6-2 SEC)

Date: Friday, April 7, 2023

Time: 6 p.m. ET

Location: Columbia, S.C.

Venue: Carolina Tennis Center

#7 Georgia (14-5, 8-0 SEC) vs. #20 Florida (12-8, 5-3 SEC)

Date: Sunday, April 9, 2023

Time: 12 p.m. ET

Location: Gainesville, Fla.

Venue: Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex

UGA Season Stats: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/564646aa/eYIl295yFkC-P-X34t8lSQ?u=https://gado.gs/9xb

South Carolina Season Stats: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/0d86e4b8/2KEJ3gMqKUm2rmXUtKTKSQ?u=https://gado.gs/ads

Florida Season Stats: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/a6faaecd/3lwNMQQ4bU_HVBhXY2NAhQ?u=https://gado.gs/adt

Live Stats vs. South Carolina: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/1c408435/QSN98y9FnUK8kzbZwovSqA?u=https://gado.gs/ado

Live Video vs. South Carolina: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/5df30cfb/LcsFkddHfkmui1c2432bOw?u=https://gado.gs/adp

Live Stats vs. Florida: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/1c408435/QSN98y9FnUK8kzbZwovSqA?u=https://gado.gs/ado

Live Video vs. Florida: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/f68c07d4/FHD3tNUrdEKFISJ5HGsWLw?u=https://gado.gs/2db

SEC Crosscourt Cast by CrackedRacquets (Friday Only): https://link.edgepilot.com/s/b5c4d424/HC671UprDUCOp1xNMg-aMw?u=https://gado.gs/ac7

Conference Play Continues

The Bulldogs continue Southeastern Conference action this week on the road, beginning with No. 5 South Carolina on Friday at 6 p.m. ET and then traveling to Gainesville to take on No. 20 Florida on Sunday at noon. The program holds a 40-10 record against the Gamecocks and a 60-25 mark versus the Gators all time.

Should Georgia win both matches this weekend, the team will clinch at least a share of its 32^nd SEC regular season championship.

In its two matches last weekend, Georgia defeated No. 4 Kentucky by a 5-2 result at home and then beat No. 59 Arkansas on the road, 4-0. The team will close out its home slate and the regular season at home against No. 14 Mississippi State on Friday, April 14 and No. 29 Ole Miss on Sunday, April 16.

The Bulldogs concluded a perfect month of March, going 7-0 and now carry a nine-match win streak dating back to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Team Indoor Championships on Feb. 18. This season, Georgia has played 15 ranked teams thus far, going 11-4 in those matches, including six wins over top 25 teams.

Diaz’s Details

On the team’s match against South Carolina…

“We certainly are playing for a lot. We’re playing for a big prize, and we certainly see this as one of our most important matches this year, but we’ve played plenty of important matches. For us, it’s a matter of knowing that we’re going to be playing in front of a big crowd in a road environment. Our guys have had a lot of experience being on the road this year quite a lot and facing good teams. I think we’re well prepared, we’re playing well and we know what to expect against South Carolina. They’re tenacious, they’re a great team and it should be a wonderful match.”

On looking ahead to the Florida match…

“We’re trying to take this one match at a time. We’re playing two very good teams – they’re capable, talented and well-coached. We go into both competitions, regardless of the outcome of the first one, ready to flip the page and play another great, tough match. We need to stay focused, not lose intensity. That’s what we’ve been talking to these guys about – our best tennis is capable of beating anyone in the country, but we know that there are many teams, that if you’re just a little bit off or not well prepared, that anyone can get you.”

On Teodor Giusca’s impact on the team…

“Teodor has played a huge role in this team. He is an extremely hard worker and has a lot of enthusiasm that is contagious. He is unselfish and is ready to play at any spot – he has probably played at more spots in our lineup than anyone else. He’s willing to play wherever is needed to help this team and I will miss him a lot next season.”

Baseball: Georgia resumes Conference play with Kentucky

Georgia resumes Southeastern Conference play with 10^th-ranked Kentucky visiting Foley Field for a three-game series starting Friday now at 5:02 p.m. on SEC Network+ and the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network. Please note the new start time for Friday’s series opener.

The Bulldogs (16-13, 1-8 SEC) return home after two straight SEC weekends on the road. It was part of a nine-game stretch that included eight contests on the road and concluded Tuesday with a 6-4 win at Kennesaw State. The Bulldogs snapped a four-game losing streak with the win over the Owls. In the SEC this year, Georgia dropped a series at No. 4 Vanderbilt last weekend. Georgia went 1-2 at Auburn and 0-3 versus USC in Athens. Twice this year in league play, Georgia has lost a game with a 9th inning lead. Meanwhile, No. 10 UK (26-3, 8-1 SEC) has the nation’s top RPI and has won of 22 of its last 23.

Series History: Georgia leads the all-time series with UK 142-100-1 dating to 1921. Last year, the Wildcats claimed the series 2-1 in Lexington while Georgia did the same in Athens in 2021. The Bulldogs won the opener last year 4-2 before UK came back to win game two 10-8 and then took the series with an 18-5 victory.

Weekend Rotation: Georgia will stick with the same rotation as far as the first two games of the series with Sunday’s starter TBA. Junior LHP Jaden Woods (3-2, 5.30) and junior LHP Liam Sullivan (3-1, 3.77)will start for the Bulldogs while UK has not named a starter for game one. However, games two and three, the Wildcats will go with LHP Tyler Bosma (4-1, 4.18) and RHP Zack Lee (3-0, 2.65). For the season, the Bulldogs have a 6.45 ERA with 290 strikeouts and 146 walks. Opponents are batting .269 against the Bulldogs. UK sports a 3.11 ERA (ranks 3rds nationally) with 270 strikeouts and 109 walks. Opponents are hitting .205 against the Wildcats.

A Look At The Offense: Georgia has hit 52 home runs to go with a .301 batting average and a .533 SLG%. The Bulldogs have drawn 129 walks and been hit by 44 pitches. UK has hit 22 home runs to go with a .307 average and a .462 SLG%. UK has drawn 169 walks and reached on 70 hit by pitches.

Georgia redshirt-freshman OF/1B Charlie Condon (.449-11-42), who is on the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, ranks among the national leaders in several categories. He has reached base safely in 28 games (all but the season opener). Graduate OF Connor Tate (.425-10-32) ranks among the national leaders with 48 hits and 90 total bases. He had a 22-game hitting streak earlier this year. Tate’s 37 career home runs ranks sixth in school history. Junior 3B/1B Parks Harber (.304-9-31) leads the team in league play, batting .378-3-11.

UK senior Hunter Gilliam is batting a team-best .407-6-41 while a trio of Wildcats have double-digit stolen bases. Jackson Gray (.337-2-20) is 14-for-19 for the year.