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BSB: Florida Wins Series Opener 8-2

Georgia fell to No. 21 Florida, 8-2, in the series opener at Foley Field on Friday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 3,633.

Fast Facts
 

• Joey Volchko (6-1) got the start on the mound for Georgia (28-7, 10-3 SEC) and allowed just one unearned run with seven strikeouts across six innings. Aidan King (5-2) started on the mound for Florida (26-9, 8-5 SEC) and received the win, pitching into the eighth and allowing two runs on two walks with six strikeouts.
• Florida opened scoring in the first inning with one run off a sacrifice fly to left.
• Volchko got out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning.
• Florida broke the game open in the seventh inning with seven runs off five hits.
• Ryan Black hit a two-RBI triple to left. This was Black’s first triple of the season.  

Quotes

Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Wes Johnson
On Joey Volchko settling down after the first inning…
“We had to calm him down a little bit. He should’ve gotten out there in the first with the zero, but things happen. We’ve played clean baseball for most of the season but was uncharacteristic tonight. Overall, he was a little amped, but then I thought he really settled in. He started getting tired there in the sixth obviously, but I thought he threw the ball fine after that.” 

Ryan Black

 2B | Sr.
On getting to the pitcher and sticking to the approach…
“You got to keep grinding them out, honestly. Just keep taking your best swing, and soon he’ll make a mistake for you.”


Up Next
The Bulldogs will return to Foley Field for the second game of the series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. The game will be live on ESPN2 and on the Georgia Bulldogs Sports Network. 

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WBB: Ayla Guzzardo Announces Assistant Coach Hires

Bri Patton, an experienced recruiter within the Southeastern Conference, and Megan Herboth, a veteran women’s basketball administrator, will remain on the Georgia women’s basketball staff, head coach Ayla Guzzardo announced Friday. 

Patton has been named an assistant coach/director of recruiting, while Herboth will serve as the executive director of basketball operations and administration. 

“I am excited to keep Bri and Megan on our staff,” Guzzardo said. “Their knowledge of the game, the relationships they have built with so many around our program and their passion for the University of Georgia made this a no-brainer. They have phenomenal experience at a high level and will both fit in perfectly with the rest of our staff. I am so pumped to work alongside them every day!”

Bri Patton Bio
A native of Conyers, Ga., Patton has served the last two seasons as Georgia’s director of recruiting operations after spending three years in the same role at Ole Miss, helping both programs sign numerous top recruiting classes. 

Patton graduated from the University of Georgia in 2018 with a degree in sport management. She was a member of the Lady Bulldogs’ staff as a manager during her time in school and also served as a graduate assistant at UCF. 

She helped lead the Knights to a 26-4 season and its first win in NCAA Tournament history in 2021-22. UCF entered the NCAA Tournament on a 13-game winning streak, its longest in program history. As a graduate assistant, Patton was a key piece of day-to-day operations, practices and game planning. She also worked in assisting in recruiting operations and with the program’s academic advisors.

At Ole Miss, Patton helped the Rebels sign multiple top 10 recruiting classes during her three seasons. 

Patton also spent time as a physical education teacher and coach for the Rockdale County Public Schools and worked as a gameday operations intern for the Atlanta Dream.

Megan Herboth Bio
Herboth will enter her fifth season on Georgia’s staff, previously serving as an executive assistant, while leading operations efforts. She has a hand in nearly every facet of the program, including travel, alumni relations and community service. 

Prior to Georgia, Herboth served in the communications office at UCF, where worked with nearly every sport during her eight years in Orlando. She was named a 2022 Greater Orlando Sports Commission SPORTYS Award finalist for Best in Communications and Public Relations. She was also tabbed the American Volleyball Coaches Association Southeast Region Division SID of the Year in 2015. 

Herboth joined the UCF Athletics staff in July 2014 and was promoted in July 2016 to associate director of communications. She served as the primary communications contact for women’s basketball, rowing, cross country and track and field and previously worked with volleyball, women’s soccer, softball and men’s tennis.

Prior to joining UCF, Herboth spent two years in the sports information office at Whitworth University in Spokane, Wash. Before her time in Washington, she worked in the Athletics Communications office at the University of Alabama while pursuing a master’s degree in human performance with an emphasis in sport management. Her time with the Crimson Tide included national championships in football, gymnastics, softball and women’s golf. She assisted hosting the NCAA Softball Championship, as well. Herboth capped off her time at Alabama by earning a CoSIDA Publications Award for her work on the rowing media guide.

Patton and Herboth are the first two additions to Guzzardo’s staff. 

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