Bulldogs Play Host To Columbus State Sunday

ATHENS-----Georgia will play host to Columbus State in a free exhibition at Foley Field this Sunday at 1 p.m.

For the second year in a row, the NCAA is allowing schools to play two fall games, and the Bulldogs will face the Cougars here on Oct. 20 and the University of Florida on Nov. 1 in Jacksonville.

Seating at Foley Field for the exhibition will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Restrooms will be open while the concession stands will be closed. Fans can bring in snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. The game is slated for 14 innings. Senior right-hander Logan Moody will start with several Bulldogs scheduled to see action. Also, fans will have a chance to catch Georgia t-shirts that the Diamond Darlings will be tossing to the crowd during the exhibition.

This season, the Bulldog baseball team is supporting local kids battling cancer through the Vs. Cancer nonprofit fundraising campaign under the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. A portion of the team's fundraising efforts will support child life programs at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and a portion will help fund groundbreaking research to cure pediatric brain tumors. For more information on the campaign, click on the following link: http://www.gado.gs/3ji

Georgia is in its seventh year under Ike Cousins head baseball coach Scott Stricklin. The Bulldogs welcome back 20 returning lettermen and 16 newcomers. Georgia returns seven starting position players including a pair of 2019 draft picks in Gold Glove Award-winning shortstop Cam Shepherd and infielder/outfielder Riley King. Also, several key components of the pitching staff are back including premium draft prospects Emerson Hancock and Cole Wilcox. The 2019 Bulldogs earned a final top 20 national ranking after going 46-17 including a school record mark of 21-9 in the SEC. Also, Georgia was a national No. 4 seed and for the second straight year played host to an NCAA Regional.

Columbus State is coached by former Bulldog Greg Appleton who is in his 23^rdseason. He played for the Bulldogs from 1981-84, became a graduate assistant coach at Georgia under Steve Webber for the next two years while earning a master's degree and then worked as an assistant from 1987-92. He was a part of Georgia's first two College World Series teams including the 1990 national champions. Appleton is the winningest coach in Columbus State baseball history with a record of 803-430 including the 2002 NCAA Division II national title. The Cougars posted their 14^thstraight winning campaign in 2019, going 31-20. They return 20 lettermen including All-Peach Belt Conference performers in junior catcher Robert Brooks (.302-10-47), senior infielder Dane Bullock (.271-11-32) and junior right-hander Devin Dudal (3-4, 2.92 ERA, 13 SV).

Tickets for the Georgia-Florida exhibition at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville are $15 (plus applicable fees) and include a postgame concert featuring award-winning country sensation Brett Young with special guests and a fireworks show. Tickets for the exhibition can be purchased at this link: http://www.gado.gs/35j

The 2020 season begins Feb. 14 with a three-game series against Richmond at Foley Field.
The Georgia Bulldog Club operates the Georgia Baseball Fund (GBF), which serves as the priority-seating program for Georgia Baseball. The donation deadline to guarantee a renewable season ticket for the 2020 Georgia Baseball season is Oct. 31. To learn more about the GBF, call The Georgia Bulldog Club toll-free at (877) 423-2947 or review the GBF brochure at the following link: http://thegeorgiabulldogclub.com/georgia-baseball-fund

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Players Mentioned

Emerson Hancock

Riley King

Logan Moody

Cam Shepherd

Cole Wilcox

University of Georgia Athletics