UGA vs USC Baseball Series Preview

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UGA vs USC Baseball Series Preview

Georgia head coach Scott Stricklin talks to his team during the NCAA baseball game between Georgia and Lipscomb at Foley Field on Saturday, March 12, 2016 in Athens, Ga. (Photo by Emily Selby)
Georgia head coach Scott Stricklin talks to his team during the NCAA baseball game between Georgia and Lipscomb at Foley Field on Saturday, March 12, 2016 in Athens, Ga. (Photo by Emily Selby)

 
 
UGA vs USC Baseball Series Preview – Georgia continues a 22-game stretch against ranked opponents by playing host to second-ranked South Carolina in an SEC series starting Friday at7 p.m. at Foley Field.
 
 
The Bulldogs (18-16, 4-8 SEC) will be looking for their third straight series win over the Gamecocks (28-6, 10-2 SEC). Under coach Scott Stricklin, the Bulldogs are 4-2 against South Carolina. Georgia claimed a series over then No. 7 South Carolina last year in Columbia, winning two games to one. It was Georgia’s first series win there since 1994 and first over a top 10 SEC team on the road since 2006. In 2014, Georgia also won a series over No. 7 USC 2-1 in Athens.
 
 
USC leads the all-time series with the Bulldogs 58-42. Last weekend, USC swept a home series over Tennessee for an SEC-best 10-2 league mark while the Bulldogs were swept by #3 Texas A&M in College Station. The Friday and Sunday games of the SEC series will be available on SEC Network+.  There is no television on Saturday due to G-Day Spring Football.
 
 
This season, the Bulldogs are 4-7 against ranked teams this year. Georgia is batting .253 with an ERA of 4.51 and fielding .967. In SEC action, the Bulldogs are hitting .272 with a 6.48 ERA and fielding .958.
 
 
Junior C/OF Skyler Weber is batting a team-best .318-1-19 and his 47 hits put him among the SEC leaders. Sophomore left fielder Keegan McGovern, who has started all 34 games this season, saw his on base streak end at a team-high 23 games after going 0-for-3 Sunday against No. 3 Texas A&M (26-7, 7-5 SEC). He bounced back Tuesday by going 2-for-4 with an RBI in the 3-1 win over Tech in Atlanta. McGovern ranks among the SEC leaders in walks with 29 and is batting .275-5-25. Georgia slugged a pair of home runs last Sunday against the Aggies, getting them from senior shortstop Nick King (.271-1-10) and junior centerfielderStephen Wrenn (.269-2-16). Georgia has hit 23 home runs on the year and the last 14 have been solo shots. In SEC action, King is batting a team-high .357.
 
 
On the mound, Georgia is led by junior RHP Robert Tyler (3-2, 2.78 ERA). The SEC rotation last weekend featured Tyler, junior LHP Connor Jones (4-2, 5.73 ERA) and sophomore LHP Bo Tucker (3-3, 3.14 ERA). For the USC series, Georgia will go Tyler and Jones for the first two games and TBA on Sunday. USC will counter with a rotation of senior RHP Clarke Schmidt (7-1, 1.77 ERA), freshman RHP Branden Webb (7-1, 2.17 ERA) and freshman RHP Adam Hill (5-0, 2.87 ERA).
 
 
About The Gamecocks
 
South Carolina, who is led by Chad Holbrook, steadily has moved up the rankings following a 10-0 start to the regular season and entered conference play with a 17-2 mark. They have roared out to a 10-2 SEC record including sweeping then No. 13 Arkansas and Tennessee at home and No. 6 Ole Miss in Oxford. The Gamecocks lost a road series 2-1 at No. 3 Vanderbilt. USC saw its five-game winning streak snap Wednesday after a 15-0 loss to No. 13 North Carolina in Charlotte at BB&T Ballpark. Overall, USC is batting .297 with an ERA of 2.97 and fielding .979. In SEC play, the Gamecocks are hitting .278 with a 3.65 ERA and fielding .981. Junior OF Gene Cone (.324-1-9) enters the series with a 20-game hitting streak. The Gamecocks feature of the nation’s top closers in junior LHP Josh Reagan (1-0, 0.31 ERA, 10 SV).
 
 
Follow The Action: Here are the video links for the series:
 
Friday vs. #2 USC, 7 pm (SEC Network+)
http://es.pn/1TCjhoc
 
Note: Sat vs. #2 USC, 6 pm — No TV due to G-Day game
 
 
Sunday vs. #2 USC, 1 pm (SEC Network+)
http://es.pn/23c8UNU
 
 
Radio
Georgia Bulldog Sports Network from IMG College (David Johnston/Jeff Dantzler)
Stations: 960 AM-WRFC and selected affiliates (check your local listings), georgiadogs.com and via the Georgia Bulldogs app and TuneIn app.
 
 
Additional Coverage on Twitter: @BaseballUGA
 
 
Foley Field Ticket Information
Reserved Seat Tickets: $8; General Admission Tickets: $5; Order online or by calling 1-877-542-1231
UGA Student Tickets: Free Admission with valid UGA Student ID Card; Note: UGA Student Gate is located off Rutherford Street; Foley Field Ticket Booth opens two hours before game time.
 
 
Promotions For USC Series
On Friday, the first 500 UGA students receive a “Beat SC” t-shirt.
 


 

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