University of Georgia Athletics
No. 18 Georgia Back In Action Tuesday
February 23, 2015 | Baseball
Georgia baseball preview of the team's game against Presbyterian including interviews with Coach Stricklin, Sean McLaughlin, and Mike Bell.
Feb. 23, 2015
ATHENS-----Georgia (5-1) plays host to Presbyterian and nationally ranked Kennesaw State during the week and then hits the road for the first time with a three-game set at Georgia Southern (5-2) starting Friday. The 18th-ranked Bulldogs are fresh off a series win over 11th-ranked Florida State in Athens. Georgia dropped the opener to the Seminoles 7-5, leaving the bases loaded in the ninth as the game ended on a pickoff at first. The Bulldogs responded by sweeping a doubleheader Saturday, winning 4-1 and 10-5. Last week, a Tuesday road game with Kennesaw State was postponed due to weather and rescheduled for April 15.
*In Tuesday's Presbyterian contest, Georgia junior RHP Sean McLaughlin (0-1, 8.10) will start versus sophomore LHP Brian Kehner (0-0, 0.00). Wednesday's matchup is TBA. The Blue Hose are 6-2 including a victory over #22 Indiana this past Friday. KSU is 5-2 and won a series over Jacksonville State. Georgia has a 13-0 edge in the series history with PC and leads 8-7 over KSU in records dating back to 1950.
*Georgia ranks among the SEC leaders offensively at .349 with nine home runs and 53 RBI through six games. Last year, Georgia hit just .256 with 13 home runs. This season, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 58-19. Georgia sports a 2.17 ERA with 64 strikeouts and 22 walks in 54 innings. The Bulldogs have made four errors on the year (two by pitchers) for a .982 Fielding Percentage.
*The Bulldogs have four regulars hitting at least .400 in sophomore third baseman Trevor Kieboom (.467-1-3), freshman left fielder Keegan McGovern (.438-1-8), sophomore centerfielder Stephen Wrenn (.417-0-5) and senior catcher Brandon Stephens (.400-0-0). McGovern and Kieboom hit .500 in the FSU seriesAgainst FSU, senior first baseman/pitcher Jared Walsh hit .333 with a home run and six RBI plus made a two-inning relief appearance. Sophomore right fielder Skyler Weber (.320-0-7) has hit safely in all six games this year and eight games total dating back to the 2014 season.
*Georgia's weekend rotation versus #11 FSU went 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA, 25 strikeouts and eight walks in 16.1 innings. Juniors Ryan Lawlor and David Sosebee earned victories while sophomore Robert Tyler did not get a decision. Lawlor tied his career-high with 10 strikeouts in only six innings against the Seminoles. For the year, Lawlor is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts, holding opponents to a .195 batting average.Senior Jared Cheek notched his first save as the bullpen combined for a 2.54 ERA (3 ER in 10.2 IP) with 12 strikeouts. Sophomore Drew Moody collected six of those strikeouts in two appearances covering three innings.
*Georgia has made its 2015 debut in the weekly team rankings, checking in at No. 18 in Collegiate Baseball's Top 30 (CB) poll and No. 24 in Perfect Game USA (PG) Top 25. Meanwhile, KSU is No. 21 in the Baseball America top 25, No. 23 in PG and No. 28 in CB.
Radio: Georgia Bulldog Sports Network from IMG College
Play-by-Play: Jeff Dantzler & David Johnston
Stations: 960 AM-WRFC and selected affiliates (check your local listings), georgiadogs.com/allaccess via GTV
TV: SEC Network +
Ticket Information: Single game Reserved seats at Foley Field: $8 each; General Admission: $5 apiece and can be purchased online. Georgia ticket office (877-542-1231) between 8:30 am-4:30 pm Monday-Friday. UGA students admitted free with their valid UGA Student ID card. UGA Student Gate is located off Rutherford Street.
Promotions: Multiple during the game.
UGA Stats Link
http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-basebl/stats/2014-2015/teamcume.html
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