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BSB: Georgia is Primed for the Home Opener
After five road games to start the season, eighth-ranked Georgia is excited to return to Foley Field for its home opener Friday against UIC (University of Illinois Chicago).
Due to extreme cold and windy weather in Athens, the season opener was pushed back a day. The Bulldogs (4-1) and Flames (1-3) will play a Friday doubleheader at 1 p.m., and it will be the first time the fans get a look at the latest upgrades at Foley Field that underwent a $45 million renovation. Game two against UIC will follow approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first contest. Both games will be streamed on SECN+ and available on the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network. Saturday’s action begins at 2 p.m., and the series concludes Sunday with first pitch at 11 a.m.
A Look At The Lineup
Eleven different position players have started a game for the Bulldogs. Georgia’s lineup last weekend featured eight of the same starting nine with catcher the lone exception. Kolby Branch (SS), senior Robbie Burnett (2B), sophomore preseason All-American Tre Phelps (RF), Kentucky graduate Nolan McCarthy (CF), Duke graduate Devin Obee (LF), senior preseason All-SEC Slate Alford (3B/2B), Miami, Ohio graduate Ryland Zaborowski (1B) and FAU graduate Christian Adams (DH) comprised most of the lineup. Catcher Henry Hunter started three games while Daniel Jackson made one start behind the plate. Against KSU, junior Ryan Black (2B) made his debut after missing time in the fall due to a hand injury. Burnett and Zaborowski lead the team with a .308 batting average. Also, Burnett has a team-best .625 on base percentage plus is seven-for-seven in stolen bases. Obee has a team-best six RBI including two home runs. Alford and Black have blasted the team’s other home runs.
Bullpen Making An Early Statement
Georgia’s bullpen has a 17-inning shutout streak that began last Saturday with preseason All-American Brian Curley tossing the final two frames in a 7-3 win over UNCW. Ten Bulldogs are part of this streak that includes 7.2 innings versus UNCW last Sunday and 7.1 innings against KSU this past Tuesday. During the streak, the pitchers have combined to allow just four hits with 12 walks and 28 strikeouts. Curley picked up his first save as a Bulldog in this past Tuesday’s road win over Kennesaw State. The Bulldogs fell behind 4-0 and then scored six unanswered runs including two in the ninth for their eighth straight win over the Owls.
UGA-UIC Pitching Matchups
Fri: Charlie Goldstein, LHP, Gr. (0-0, 0.00) vs. Dillon Schueler, RHP, Jr. (0-1, 6.23)
Game 2: Leighton Finley, RHP, Jr. (0-0, 2.25) vs. TBA
Sat: Brian Zeldin, RHP, Gr. (0-0, 5.40) vs. George Eisenhardt, RHP, Jr. (0-1, 40.50)
Sun: TBA vs. Kendall Lyons, RHP, Jr. (0-0. 4.50)
Top 25 Polls
Georgia remained at No. 8 in this week’s D1Baseball Top 25 and No. 11 according to Baseball America.
Foley Field In 2025
Gameday Central Link: https://georgiadogs.com/sports/2025/1/23/baseball-gameday-central
· Foley Field Gates Open 1 hour before first pitch
· Tickets – available for purchase for this series and other non-conference games at this link: https://georgiadogs.evenue.net/events/BBSINGLE
· UGA STUDENTS: Free Admission and please enter at 3rd Base Gate
· PROMOTIONS SCHEDULED
Friday: First 500 UGA Students receive Bojangles Chicken Biscuits for game one
Sunday: Pregame-Anthem Buddies; Postgame-Kids Run the Bases
The $45 million renovation of Foley Field has continued to elevate both the player and fan experience at UGA’s baseball facility, often referred to as the Wrigley Field of the SEC. Georgia has played here since 1966.
With an updated capacity of 3,633, the ballpark has a neighborhood feel that rivals any of its league counterparts in terms of fan experience and entertainment. Fans can feel like their right on top of the action with excellent sight lines throughout the facility. There’s even a field level premium area behind home plate that stretches to each dugout.
The Player Development features include:
*A new pitching lab and hitting tunnels with the latest technology
*A weight room, nutrition station and coaches’ office
*The entire playing field along with foul territory now features a new AstroTurf surface
*The two-year project began in 2024 when the Bulldogs enjoyed a new locker room and team meeting room plus the facility added stadium LED lights.
Overall, fans have new seating options, enhanced experiences throughout the venues plus multiple new premium spaces. The stadium area is covered seating except for a new, small section down the third base line past the Bulldog dugout.
Radio/TV/Live Stats Links
Download the official App of the Georgia Bulldogs
https://georgiadogs.com/feature/mobile-app
Friday @ 1 p.m. ET (Game 1 of DH)
Radio: 960TheRef (Jeff Dantzler & David Johnston)
https://georgiadogs.com/watch/?Live=4777&type=Live
TV Stream: SECN+ (Jeff Dantzler & David Johnston)
https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/e3bf107c-38d2-4f32-9bee-fa4f0b94873d
Live Stats: https://georgiadogs.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
Friday approx. 3:30 p.m. ET (Game 2 of DH)
Radio: 960TheRef (Jeff Dantzler & David Johnston)
https://georgiadogs.com/watch/?Live=4779&type=Live
TV Stream: SECN+ (Jeff Dantzler & David Johnston)
https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/e3bf107c-38d2-4f32-9bee-fa4f0b94873d
Live Stats: https://georgiadogs.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
Saturday @ 2 pm
Radio: 960TheRef (Jeff Dantzler & David Johnston)
https://georgiadogs.com/watch/?Live=4780&type=Live
TV Stream: SECN+ (Jeff Dantzler & David Johnston)
https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/2838fadb-e466-4243-aa58-39a15f9cfbcf
Live Stats: https://georgiadogs.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
Sunday @ 11 am
Radio: 960TheRef (Jeff Dantzler & David Johnston)
https://georgiadogs.com/watch/?Live=4781&type=Live
TV Stream: SECN+ (Jeff Dantzler & David Johnston)
https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/8c5055d2-021c-4948-963a-8f9d76310e67
Live Stats: https://georgiadogs.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
SB: UGA Opens 22ndAnnual Georgia Classic at Jack Turner Stadium with a Win
SOFTBALL | vs. BUFFALO | W, 11-3
Winning pitcher: Lilli Backes (4-0)
Losing Pitcher: Olivia Russ (1-2)
Season Record: 10-0
The ninth-ranked Georgia softball team run ruled the Buffalo Bulls, 11-3, on Thursday to open the 22ndAnnual Georgia Classic at Jack Turner Stadium.
Georgia stays unbeaten on the season at 10-0.
Fast Facts
- The start is Georgia’s best since 2017 when UGA opened the season 12-0.
- Junior Sarah Gordon knocked a pair of three-run home runs in the contest, tallying a career-high six RBI. The game was her first career two-home run game.
- Senior Lilli Backes improved to 4-0 in the circle, working four shutout innings in her start, tallying nine strikeouts, and allowing just two hits.
- Junior Jaydyn Goodwin hit two triples in the game, the first Bulldog to do so since 2021 (Sydney Chambley vs. Virginia).
- Freshman Precious Bross recorded her first career hit, a two-RBI double in the bottom of the fifth to walk off the Bulls.
Video Highlights
Up Next
The Bulldogs will play App State on Friday at 6 p.m. Tickets for every day of the Georgia Classic can be purchased online at GeorgiaDogs.com.
Malaki Starks Named Finalist for the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup
Georgia All-American safety Malaki Starks has been named one of six finalists for the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup, according to an announcement from Athletes For A Better World.
Starks, a native of Jefferson, Ga., who was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, joins Oklahoma football player Ethan Downs, Wayne State basketball player Shea Tripp, University of Minnesota Duluth hockey player Clara Van Wieren and Georgia Tech track and field members Isabella Turner and John Watkins as finalists.
The six finalists will be invited to attend this year’s Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup Awards in Atlanta at the College Football Hall of Fame on April 25.
Finalists demonstrated outstanding qualities and potential to impact sports and society positively. Starks and the other five finalists embodied the leadership, service and excellence values that John Wooden championed throughout his legendary coaching career.
Starks is now training for the NFL Scouting Combine, which runs in Indianapolis from Feb. 27 – March 2. This year’s NFL Draft will be on April 24-26.
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