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BSB: Dawgs Clinch Auburn Series Win
Fifth-ranked and SEC champion Georgia extended its winning streak to a season-high 11 games with a 9-7 series-clinching victory over fourth-ranked Auburn 9-7 Friday in front of a crowd of 5,566 at Plainsman Park.
Fast Facts
- Georgia jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first on a two-run single by junior Ryan Wynn and a three-run blast by senior Jordy Oriach. It was the seventh home run of the year for Oriach.
- In the top of the fifth, Georgia got another three-run home run, this one from senior Kolby Branch to make it 8-2. It was Branch’s 17th of the year and 53rd for his career.
- Junior right-hander Dylan Vigue started and went 4.2 innings, scattering five runs on seven hits with one walk and six strikeouts. The Tigers struck for a pair of runs on two hits in the first and then a four-run outburst in the fifth to make it 8-6. Georgia turned to Paul Farley to get out of the jam as the Tigers left the bases loaded. Farley went 2.1 innings and allowed one run on three hits to improve to 7-1.
- In the sixth, Rylan Lujo launched his ninth home run over the green monster in left field for a 9-6 lead.
- In the eighth, Georgia looked to junior Zach Brown, and he took care of the final two frames for his first career save.
- With three more home runs on Friday, Georgia now has an NCAA-leading 145 home runs on the year.
- In its SEC Championship season, Georgia won nine of its 10 league series, including all five on the road against ranked opponents. Auburn had won six straight SEC series before the Bulldogs arrived Thursday.
Key Quotes
Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Wes Johnson
On Friday’s game…
“I told the guys after the game that this will be something you look back on and realize how special this is as I’ve been a part of a lot of teams, and I don’t know what the record or how many times this has been done but to win nine out of 10 league series including the five on the road versus top 25 teams. It’s hard and we’ve done it. I tip my hat to our players. This was another good environment, and we stayed focused and didn’t panic.”
Kolby Branch, Sr., SS
On Friday’s series-clinching win against another top 25 road opponent…
“We come into every series expecting to win and there’s something to be said about expectations and then going out and being ready to go each week. We look for the silence, that’s been our motto. To play well and silence the crowd. We’re really pumped about this year so far.”
Up Next
Georgia (43-11, 23-6 SEC) concludes the SEC series against the Tigers (35-18, 16-13 SEC) on Saturday with first pitch set for 2 pm ET. The game will be available on SEC Network+ and the Georgia Bulldogs Sports Network.
WTEN: Georgia Advances to NCAA Championship Semifinals
The No. 1 Georgia women’s tennis team (22-5, 12-3 SEC) advanced to the fourth consecutive NCAA Championship semifinals after a 4-1 victory over No. 8 NC State (25-8, 10-2 ACC) in the NCAA quarterfinal round at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex on Friday.
Fast Facts
- Georgia evens the series to 3-3 against NC State all-time.
- The Bulldogs have now advanced to the NCAA semifinals for a fourth consecutive season and the 16th time in program history.
- No. 19 Anastasiia Lopata and Patricija Paukstyte defeated the nation’s No. 3 doubles pair of Gabriella Broadfoot and Victoria Osuigwe, 6-2, on court one.
- Emma Dong and Anastasiia Gureva clinched the Bulldogs fourth consecutive doubles point with a 6-4 victory over Mia Slama and Lavania Tanasie on court three.
- No. 19 Lopata gave Georgia a 2-0 lead with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over No. 26 Slama on court one.
- NC State earned its lone point on court five as Osuigwe defeated No. 81 Sofia Rojas, 6-3, 6-2.
- No. 7 Aysegul Mert rallied from a first-set loss to defeat No. 46 Anna Zyryanova, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, on court two.
- No. 64 Deniz Dilek clinched the match for the Bulldogs with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 comeback victory over No. 49 Broadfoot on court three.
- Dilek also clinched Georgia’s victory in the 2026 ITA National Team Indoor Championship earlier this season.
- Attendance for Thursday’s quarterfinal match at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex was 2,533.
Results
Doubles:
1. #19 Anastasiia Lopata/Patricija Paukstyte (UGA) def. #3 Gabriella Broadfoot/Victoria Osuigwe (NC STATE): 6-2
2. #4 Deniz Dilek/Aysegul Mert (UGA) vs. #49 Jasmine Conway/Anna Zyryanova (NC STATE): 3-5, unfinished
3. Emma Dong/Anastasiia Gureva (UGA) def. Mia Slama/Lavania Tanasie (NC STATE): 6-4
Singles:
1. #19 Anastasiia Lopata (UGA) def. #26 Mia Slama (NC STATE): 6-4, 6-2
2. #7 Aysegul Mert (UGA) def. #46 Anna Zyryanova (NC STATE): 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
3. #64 Deniz Dilek (UGA) def. #49 Gabriella Broadfoot (NC STATE): 4-6, 7-5, 6-1
4. #93 Emma Dong (UGA) vs. #66 Lavinia Tanasie (NC STATE): 7-5, 6-6(3), unfinished
5. Victoria Osuigwe (NCSU) def. #81 Sofia Rojas (UGA): 6-3, 6-2
6. Patricija Paukstyte (UGA) vs. Jasmine Conway (NCSU): 6-4, 3-6, 5-0, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 3) ; Singles (5, 1, 2, 3)
Key Quotes:
Head Coach Drake Bernstein
Opening Statement
“It was a fantastic evening and a great way to spend a Friday afternoon here in Athens. I’m really proud of the ladies and the way that they handled the environment. They’ve been tough and learned throughout the year. We applied a lot of that learning tonight. We have fun when we play at home, and I am very proud of everyone.”
Freshman Deniz Dilek
On the environment at Dan Magill Tennis Complex…
“As a freshman, having the loud crowd with me is the best experience ever. I try to be my best and try to use the crowd as well.”
On what she has loved about playing at UGA…
“Playing in this environment is the best thing ever. There’s nothing else like this at any other school, and I’m very grateful I get to play here every day with my teammates, who are like family.”
Up Next
No. 1 Georgia will face the winner of No. 4 Texas A&M and No. 5 UNC in the NCAA semifinals on Saturday, May 16, at 7 p.m. ET at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. Matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
Match 29 – No. 1 Georgia vs No. 4/5 Texas A&M, North Carolina (NCAA Semifinal)
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Athens, Georgia
Site: Dan Magill Tennis Complex
Live Video: https://gado.gs/es5
Live Stats: https://gado.gs/es6
Tournament Central Page: https://gado.gs/ert
Ticket Information
Tickets for the NCAA Championship matches are on sale online at Georgia Bulldogs | Online Ticket Office | Event Groups (evenue.net). Fans can also purchase tickets at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex beginning one hour prior to the start of the first match each day (based on availability).
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