(Photo by Steven Colquitt)
The Volunteers (9-8, 1-2 SEC) blanked Austin Peay 3-0 this past Tuesday in Knoxville after going 1-2 against nationally ranked Florida in Gainesville last weekend. UT holds a 112-96 edge in the series with the Bulldogs, however Georgia has captured the series the last four years. Georgia claimed the series 2-1 in Athens last year while the 2013 matchup in Knoxville was limited to one game, an 8-7 Bulldog victory, due to rain.
For the season, Georgia is batting .286 with 21 home runs and has been successful in 30-of-37 stolen base attempts. The team ERA had been below 3.00 for the entire season before the Mercer contest, and consequently it jumped to 3.53. The Bulldogs own a .974 fielding percentage. UT is batting .265 with a 2.86 ERA and fielding .958.
For the seventh time in his career and first time this season, senior utility standout Jared Walsh will make a start as a pitcher/designated hitter in the Friday opener versus the Volunteers. Walsh’s 0.86 ERA leads the SEC, and he is batting .299-1-10. This season, he is 2-0 in 21 innings pitched with six appearances and two starts. He had a career-best 15-game hitting streak end this past Sunday. Senior LHP Ryan Lawlor (2-3, 3.28 ERA) is slated to start Saturday for the Bulldogs while Sunday’s starter is TBA. Last year, Lawlor fired a complete game gem in beating No. 23 Tennessee 4-1 with a career-high 10 strikeouts.
Georgia sophomore ace Robert Tyler (1-0, 3.86 ERA) has been out with a forearm strain since Feb. 27 while junior David Sosebee (2-1, 1.80 ERA), who has served as the Sunday starter all year, now is out due to a back injury. Both Bulldog pitchers look to return some time in April.Georgia’s leading hitters are junior shortstop Nick King (.344-0-5, 9 SB), sophomore outfielder Skyler Weber (.328-2-14, 4 SB), and sophomore center fielder Stephen Wrenn (.325-2-12, 10 SB). The speedy Wrenn has reached base in all 21 games this season.
Probable Pitching Matchups For Georgia vs Tennessee Series
Friday at 6 pm: UGA: Jared Walsh (2-0, 0.86), LHP, Sr. vs. Bret Marks (2-1, 1.17), RHP, Sr.
Saturday at 4 pm: UGA: Ryan Lawlor (2-3, 3.28), LHP, Jr. vs. Drake Owenby (1-2, 2.81), LHP, Jr.
Sunday at 2 pm: UGA: TBA vs. Kyle Serrano (1-2, 3.86), RHP, So.
Radio: Georgia Bulldog Sports Network from IMG College (Jeff Dantzler & David Johnston)
Stations: 960 AM-WRFC and selected affiliates (check your local listings), georgiadogs.com; Sunday’s game on WGAU 1340AM
Additional Coverage on Twitter: @BaseballUGA
TV: Saturday & Sunday (SEC Network +)
Sat: Georgia vs Tennessee, 4 pm (SEC Network +)
Sun.: Georgia vs Tennessee, 2 pm (SEC Network +)