(Photo by John Kelley)
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The Bulldogs (16-10, 3-3 SEC) posted their first SEC road sweep last week at Tennessee while the Gamecocks (18-7, 4-2 SEC) dropped two of three at Missouri. Georgia went 1-1 this week, falling to Mercer Tuesday and beating Kennesaw State Wednesday. USC dropped a 9-8 decision in 11 innings to Coastal Carolina on Tuesday. Georgia won the series over then No. 7 South Carolina in Athens last year two games to one.
[su_spacer size=”40″]For the season, Georgia is batting .280 with 26 home runs and has been successful in 38-of-45 stolen base attempts. The team ERA is 3.82 while the Bulldogs own a .972 fielding percentage. USC is batting .262 with a 2.64 ERA and fielding .969. The Gamecocks are 16-3 at home this year while the Bulldogs are 3-4 on the road. Georgia is 2-1 against top 25 opponents after winning a series from 11th-ranked Florida State last month.
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For the eighth time in his career and second time this season, senior utility standout Jared Walsh will make a start as a pitcher/designated hitter in the Friday opener versus the Gamecocks. Walsh’s 0.96 ERA leads the SEC, and he is batting .270-2-13. This season, he is 3-0 in seven appearances and three starts. Senior LHP Ryan Lawlor (3-3, 2.84 ERA) is slated to start Saturday for the Bulldogs while Sunday’s starter is TBA. Last year, Lawlor fired a complete game gem three-hitter in beating No. 7 South Carolina 3-1 to earn SEC Pitcher of the Week honors. The USC rotation will be sophomore RHP Wil Crowe (3-2, 2.58 ERA) on Friday and junior LHP Jack Wynkoop (4-1, 2.16 ERA) on Saturday with Sunday’s starter TBA.
[su_spacer size=”40″]The Bulldogs will be missing two members of its starting rotation again this weekend. 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), the No. 3 starter, is out due to a back injury. Sosebee has pitched just 2.2 innings in March. Both Bulldogs may return some time in April.
[su_spacer size=”40″]Georgia’s leading hitter is sophomore centerfielder Stephen Wrenn (.323-3-16, 14 SB). The speedy Wrenn has reached base safely in all 26 games this season. Junior C/1B Zack Bowers, who ranks among the SEC’s top sluggers, is batting .314-6-16. He went 7-for-10 with three RBI in the two games earlier this week.
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Probable Pitching Matchups For UGA-USC Series
Friday: UGA: Jared Walsh (3-0, 0.96), LHP, Sr. vs. Wil Crowe (3-2, 2.58), RHP, So.
Saturday: UGA: Ryan Lawlor (3-3, 2.84), LHP, Jr. vs. Jack Wynkoop (4-1, 2.16), LHP, Jr.
Sunday: UGA: TBA vs. TBA
[su_spacer size=”40″]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;
Additional Coverage on Twitter: @BaseballUGA
[su_spacer size=”40″] TV: Friday-Sunday (SEC Network +)[su_spacer size=”20″] Fri. @ South Carolina, 7 p.m.
http://es.pn/1FCirQg
[su_spacer size=”40″]Sat. @ South Carolina, 4 p.m.
http://es.pn/1EqWwHW
[su_spacer size=”40″]Sun. @ South Carolina, 1:30 p.m.
http://es.pn/1AZsOri