#5 Georgia (36-5) vs. Mercer (26-12)
Dates: Apr. 14-15, 2018
Times: 2 (DH)/2 p.m., EDT
Location: Athens, Ga.
Stadium: Jack Turner Stadium
Media Information
Streaming Video: SEC Network+
Play-by-play: Kaleb Frady
Analysis: Kristina Wyatt
Live Stats: GeorgiaDogs.com
Twitter Updates: @UGAsoftball
#5 Georgia plays its conference bye-week against in-state opponent Mercer in a three-game set this weekend at Jack Turner Stadium. The series begins with a twin bill Saturday at 2 p.m. The finale is set for Sunday at 2.
Follow the Bulldogs
» This weekend’s series will stream live on the SEC Network+. Kaleb Frady will provide play-by-play while Kristina Wyatt will be the color analyst.
» Saturday’s opening game will be broadcast on WUOG 90.5 FM and WUOG.org. Myan Patel will be on the call.
» Live stats will be available. Live stat links can be found on the softball schedule at GeorgiaDogs.com.
» Live Twitter updates will be available all season long at @UGAsoftball.
This Weekend’s Promotions
» Admission to every regular-season home Georgia softball game is FREE
» Saturday, April 14
– Girl Scout Day
– Postgame autographs
Georgia Softball Notebook
Series History
Georgia leads 17-0
» Georgia has won all 12 meetings in Athens
» Last year’s meeting was in Orlando; Georgia won 12-3
» Prior to 2017, the last meeting was in 2014
A Look Back
Georgia recorded its fifth-straight Southeastern Conference series win over Missouri. The Bulldogs came back to win the opener with a three-run home run by Justice Milz in the sixth, 8-6. Missouri took the second game, limiting Georgia to a lone run, 5-1. For the third-straight week, Georgia faced off in a rubber game. The bats came alive, led by a four-hit, four-RBI day by Alysen Febrey and taking the series, 7-2. The Bulldogs picked up their 19th shutout with a 7-0 win over Georgia State Wednesday.
A Look Ahead
USC-Upstate closes Georgia’s eight-game homestand and the midweek schedule on Wednesday, Apr. 18. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Jack Turner Stadium. The Bulldogs then return to SEC play on the road at Kentucky Apr. 20-22.
Georgia in the Top 25
The Bulldogs moved up a spot to #5 in the week nine USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll. Georgia stayed at #5 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll. Both are Georgia’s highest ranking since being top five much of the 2011 season.
Georgia’s rankings this season:
Preseason: 25
Week 1: 17
Week 2: 14
Week 3: 14
Week 4: 11
Week 5: 10/12
Week 6: 7
Week 7: 6
Week 8: 5/6
Week 9: 5
In the latest RPI, Georgia comes in at number 5, the highest-ranked SEC team.
Shout-outs for Shutouts
The Georgia pitching staff has recorded 19 shutouts in 2018. UGA’s record for shutouts in a season is 33 set in 2003. Georgia’s 19 shutouts ranks tied for seventh-most all time. UGA had 20 in 2009 and 2015.
The Bulldogs recorded six-consecutive shutouts from Feb. 17-24, tying a program record set twice, first in 2003 then again in 2016.
Justice League
Second baseman Justice Milz has been one of Georgia’s hottest hitters lately. She has hit five of Georgia’s last six home runs. In the last 10 games, she has driven in 15 RBI, a team high, while hitting .441. Her on-base percentage of .513 has resulted in 11 runs scored to co-lead the team with Cortni Emanuel.
In SEC play, Milz leads the team with 16 RBI and co-leads with six home runs.
Winning Series is Key
Georgia has opened Southeastern Conference play winning five-straight series. Georgia won all but one league series in 2006, a season after winning all 10 series in 2005. Game three of the series has been a rubber game in three of five SEC series.
Emanuel Joins Greatness
In the Apr. 8 game against Missouri, Cortni Emanuel recorded her 300th career hit. She becomes only the third Georgia player with 300 career hits, joining Nicole Barber and Kim Wendland. She is also only one of four with over 200 runs scored at Georgia.
Gray Out for Rest of Season
Senior pitcher Brittany Gray will miss the remainder of the season due to a right biceps injury. Gray, a native of Greenwood, Indiana, will have surgery to repair the injury and is expected to make a full recovery. In 2018, Gray went 16-1 in the circle, pitching 12 complete games, and shutting out seven opponents. Her 0.48 ERA led the Southeastern Conference and ranked second nationally. She struck out 134 opposing hitters in 2018.
A Power-Packed Offense
At the plate, Georgia leads the SEC in five offensive categories including batting average (.352), slugging (.566), runs scored (277), hits (384), RBI (253), home runs (51), and total bases (617).
In the country, Georgia’s team batting average ranks third. The Bulldogs lead the NCAA in slugging while coming in fourth in on base pct. and sixth in scoring (6.76 runs/game).
Down But Not Out
Georgia has come back to win three games when trailing after six innings this season. The Bulldogs have won four games when tied or trailing after six innings in league play.
In the road series at Mississippi State, Georgia found itself down a run in the top seventh with two out in every game. The Bulldogs either tied or took a lead in each game with one out left, winning games Friday and Sunday.
There’s No Place Like The Jack
Georgia has played 29 games at Jack Turner Stadium this season, winning 27 of said contests. The Bulldogs have topped their home winning total from the past three seasons (24, 2017; 23, 2016; 26, 2015). Georgia is .783 at home with 562 wins.
The most wins at home was in 2011 when the Bulldogs won 38 games at Jack Turner Stadium.
Solid in the Circle
The Georgia pitching staff has been sharp this season, recording a 1.23 ERA through 267.2innings. Georgia’s ERA is the fourth-best in the SEC and ninth in the nation. The staff has struck out 290 opposing hitters, and putting 19 shutouts in the books.
It Begins at the Top
The top of Georgia’s lineup features two hitters batting north of .400 through 37 games in Cortni Emanuel (.444) and Alysen Febrey (.416). Justice Milz and Alyssa DiCarlo are each hitting just under .400 at .395 and .370, respectively.
The first inning is the second-highest run producing inning for Georgia, scoring 51 runs in the opening stanza. The Bulldogs have scored in the first 22 times, winning all 22 of said games.