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BSB: Dawgs Even Series, Rubber Game Today at Noon
Tenth-ranked Georgia evened its SEC series with No. 14 Oklahoma here Friday, winning 10-9 in front of a crowd of 3,106.
Fast Facts
- With a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning, senior Slate Alford extended his on-base streak to 28 games, setting a new season-high for the Bulldogs.
- Junior Kolten Smith started for Georgia, delivering 4.2 innings of two-run ball, striking out five while giving up two hits. Smith held Oklahoma hitless through four frames, retiring 11 straight batters after allowing a walk with one out in the first.
- The Bulldogs jumped on Oklahoma starter Cade Crossland, scoring a run in the first and five in the second. The southpaw settled down, retiring six consecutive batters before surrendering a leadoff walk to Slate Alford in the fifth inning, who later scored on Tre Phelps’ home run. Crossland was relieved after allowing seven runs on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 4.0 innings.
- After not recording a home run since March 7th, Tre Phelps blasted his second home run in as many games on a three-run shot to left field for a 9-2 advantage.
- Junior Zach Harris earned the win, improving to 3-0 after entering the top of the eighth inning with two outs, stranding the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. Harris returned for the ninth and slammed the door, recording the final out with the tying run on base.
Key Quotes
Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach, Wes Johnson
On the team taking past mistakes, turning them into areas of growth…
“We came out today and let’s be real, we did not play all that well at the end of the day, but we are starting to do some things better. Things that we were doing earlier in the year. So, we have got some things to improve on, but you never apologize for a win because in this league they are all hard. There are going to be some wins that are easy, and you play great, but these are the ones you will look back on and go, yeah, this one was gritty, and it was hard.”
On Zach Harris entering the last two innings…
“Last year he started a super-regional game for us, so the limelight or the spotlight should not be too big for Zach. He has been really hungry lately and he has wanted to pitch more in some different roles and environments. When you get that combination of a guy who is hungry and you throw them into the fire and they perform, then you start to trust them.”
Zach Harris, Jr. RHP
On his mindset on the mound today…
“We had the lead the whole game and our hitters have been battling all season. They come out and fight each and every day.And as a pitching staff, trying to come out there and just fight for them, have their backs while they have ours at the plate. So, I think my mentality was just attack the guy. That’s kind of been my thing, especially as I’ve grown. Just let the chips fall where they may and just do what I can do and control what I can control.”
Slate Alford Sr. 3B
On getting hits early in the game and how it helped the team today…
“It has been a rough couple of weeks, but that is the game of baseball, and we have a lot of confidence in ourselves. Just taking your walks and not chasing is huge. Today was a new day and just fighting. Just doing what I can do.”
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The final game of the three-game series between Georgia (34-11, 11-9 SEC) and No. 14 Oklahoma (29-13, 11-9 SEC) is scheduled for Saturday at noon at Foley Field. It will be the annual Lettermen Day with a special recognition of the 1990 NCAA Champions with more than 20 members expected to attend.
Three Offensive Linemen Selected on Night Two of the NFL Draft
Three mainstays of the University of Georgia offensive line heard their names called on the second night of the 2025 NFL Draft Friday evening at Lambeau Field.
Offensive lineman Tate Ratledge was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 25th pick (57th overall) of the second round while fellow lineman Dylan Fairchild was later selected with the 17th pick (81st overall) of the third round by the Cincinnati Bengals. Center Jared Wilson rounded out the selections as he was chosen with the 31st pick of the third round (95th overall) by the New England Patriots.
With the selections, Georgia has now had an offensive lineman picked in the first three rounds in five of the last six years. Friday also marked the first time in program history in which three offensive linemen were chosen in the first three rounds.
The six total Bulldogs selected in the first three rounds tied the 2021 and 2024 drafts for second-most in program history – the record remains nine selected in 2022. Head coach Kirby Smart has now produced 69 NFL Draft picks during his first nine seasons at the helm of the Georgia program, including 16 offensive linemen.
In four seasons together on the line, Ratledge, Fairchild and Wilson helped lead Georgia to a 53-5 record, earning two Southeastern Conference championships (2022, 2024) and consecutive College Football Playoff championships (2021, 2022). The Georgia offense averaged 31.5 points per game in 2024, with the line allowing only 25 sacks and paving the way for 1,742 rushing yards.
Ratledge appeared in 41 games with 37 starts over five seasons, playing primarily at right guard. The Rome native was twice named to the All-America Team, earning AP Second Team honors in 2023 and AFCA First Team accolades in 2024, along with two First Team All-SEC selections. He is the 16th Bulldog selected by the Lions and the first since D’Andre Swift went 35th overall in 2020.
Fairchild appeared in 44 games with 29 starts over four seasons, playing at left guard in most of his appearances. The Cumming native was named to the AP All-America Second Team and All-SEC Second Team. He marks the 16th Georgia product selected by the Bengals, who have chosen a Georgia offensive lineman in three of the past five drafts (Amarius Mims – 2024, Trey Hill – 2021).
Wilson appeared in 33 games over four seasons, making 12 starts at center during the 2024 season. The Winston-Salem, North Carolina native was named to the All-SEC Second Team. He becomes the 12th Bulldog selected by the Patriots and the first since Isaiah Wynn and Sony Michel went in the 2018 first round. Once in Foxborough, he will compete for the starting center position previously held for 10 seasons by former Bulldog David Andrews.
The 2025 NFL Draft concludes Saturday in Green Bay with the final four rounds, beginning at noon EDT. Live coverage of the Draft will air on ESPN, ABC and NFL Network, with continuous coverage online at GeorgiaDogs.com.
Lettermen Day Saturday Will Honor 1990 NCAA Championship Team
The annual Georgia Baseball Lettermen’s Day will be held today at Foley Field with a pregame recognition of the 1990 College World Series champions, the first Southeastern Conference baseball squad to win a national title.
The program will take place on the field at 11:40 a.m. before the No. 10 Bulldogs face No. 14 Oklahoma in the final game of an SEC series. First pitch Saturday will be at 12:02 p.m. (SECN).
It is the 35-year anniversary of Georgia winning the championship. In the CWS title game, the Bulldogs defeated Oklahoma State 2-1. Georgia pitcher Mike Rebhan was named the Most Outstanding Player at the 1990 CWS and was later named to the CWS All-Decade Team. The 1990 Bulldogs featured three All-Americans (pitcher Dave Fleming, designated hitter Brian Jester and shortstop J.R. Showalter) and two Freshman All-Americans (pitcher Stan Payne and outfielder Ray Suplee). Coach Steve Webber’s 1990 Georgia squad finished with a 52-19 record. Webber guided the Bulldogs for 16 seasons. He led Georgia to its first two College World Series appearances in school history, including the 1990 national championship. He is the winningest baseball coach in school history and tallied 500 victories.
A total of nearly 20 members from the 1990 team are planning to attend. While Webber and Rebhan have passed away, Steve’s wife, Pam, and his daughter, Ashley, as well as his granddaughter, Bess, and Mike’s wife, Patricia, will also be here.
Along with recognizing lettermen from as far back as the 1960s, a few Bulldogs will receive special awards.
The Charley Trippi Distinguished Letterman Award goes to a Bulldog in recognition of his generous support, interest, and extraordinary commitment to UGA Baseball. This honor is awarded to a former student-athlete who made his mark on the playing fields and has carried those lessons into life as an extraordinary, contributing, and successful citizen. The 2025 recipient is J.P. Stewart.
A native of Fayetteville, Georgia, Stewart graduated from Woodward Academy and the University of Georgia, where he was a catcher on the baseball team from 1989 to 1992. He was a part of two NCAA Regional squads, including the 1990 National Championship team. An Honor Roll student, he earned his BBA in Accounting in 1993. He received a master’s degree in taxation from the University of Georgia in 1994 and became a CPA in 1996. He is a partner in the firm Stewart, Kizzar and Brocklebank in Alpharetta.
J.P. and his wife Katie, also a UGA graduate and former Diamond Darling, have two children: Anna Grace, a 2023 UGA graduate, and Andrew, a senior at Kings Ridge Christian School. They are active members of North Point Community Church and proud supporters of UGA Athletics.
“What an honor to be recognized by UGA,” said Stewart. “I am truly grateful for the opportunities and experiences the University of Georgia has provided to me and my family. Go Dawgs!”
The Tom Cousins Outstanding Athletic Achievement Award goes to a Bulldog who has distinguished himself on the playing field, and his performance, leadership and integrity inspires present and future players to give their all to win at the highest level. The 2025 recipient is Brian Jester.
A native of Endicott, N.Y., Brian Jester was a football-baseball standout at Union-Endicott High School who went on to earn All-America honors in baseball for the University of Georgia and helped them win an NCAA title. An All-SEC and Academic All-SEC selection, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and returned to campus to earn a master’s degree in sport management in 2006.
After a brief professional baseball career, he became a successful sales executive with C.A.F. Sales and Easton Sports for 14 years before returning to UGA as Director of Baseball Operations. During this time, he was a part of three more College World Series teams in 2004, 2006, and 2008. He was named an associate director of athletics at SUNY Oneonta in 2009 and currently serves as the associate athletic director for Corporate Partnerships at Binghamton University.
“This is an incredible honor; I am very appreciative and humbled to receive this award,” said Jester. “I wish to dedicate this award to our head coach Steve Webber and his legacy, assistant coaches Howard McCann, Greg Appleton and Jim Bagnall, all the Georgia baseball staff members and student-athletes that I have had the privilege to work alongside for so many years and lastly to my best friends in the world, my teammates.
“This is not an individual award; I share this accolade with every Georgia baseball student-athlete, coach and staff member that has represented the “G” with pride and honor. To be recognized with an award that carries Mr. Cousins’ name – someone who stands for leadership, excellence and service is something I will cherish forever. Being a part of Georgia baseball has shaped me in ways I will be proud of for the rest of my life. Thank you and Go Dawgs!”
Since 2021 on Lettermen Day, the most outstanding senior from the previous year’s team is recognized with the Cheek & Templeton Prestigious Alumni Award. The recipient of the 2024 club is Corey Collins. A four-year letterman, he became the first SEC player to lead the NCAA in on-base percentage with a .574 mark in 2024. He batted .354 with 20 home runs and 58 RBI last season and was a sixth-round draft pick of the New York Mets. Currently, he is playing for the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Mets’ High-A affiliate.
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