Georgia Opens Gardner-Webb Series Saturday

ATHENS-----Seventh-ranked Georgia (4-1) enters the Gardner-Webb series on a four-game winning streak with the opener slated for Saturday at noon at Foley Field.

Saturday's action will feature a split doubleheader of two nine-inning games. The second game will not start before 4:30 p.m. Fans will be asked to clear Foley Field after the first game so the facility can be sanitized.
Fans with a ticket to Friday's game may use that for Saturday's first contest at noon. Fans with a ticket to Saturday's game may use that for the second game of the doubleheader. Fans must have a ticket to each game in which they plan to attend. Sunday's single game will be a 1 p.m. start. This series will now only be three games after Friday's game was postponed due to rain. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, attendance at Foley Field is limited to around 600 fans.

Georgia will get one of its preseason All-America pitchers back Saturday as senior LHP Ryan Webb is slated to start game two of the series and be on a pitch count. Sophomore RHP Jonathan Cannon should return next week.

Georgia's rotation for the Gardner-Webb series will be senior LHP C.J. Smith (0-1, 2.25 ERA) for game one followed by Webb and freshman LHP Jaden Woods (0-0, 5.79 ERA). Webb served as the team's closer last year, going 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA and one save in five appearances. He struck out 26 and had just five walks in 15 innings. He made seven starts out of 23 appearances as a freshman and was limited to 16 relief outings in 2019. For his career, Webb is 4-5 with a 3.77 ERA and six saves in 44 appearances. Webb will be on a pitch count Saturday with freshman LHP Luke Wagner (1-0, 0.00 ERA) likely to follow him. Georgia's team ERA is 2.41 while the Bulldogs are batting .291 and fielding .976.

Redshirt junior OF/1B Connor Tate (.563-0-3) is enjoying a hot start to the season, going 9-for-16 for a team-best .563 average along with a five-game hitting streak. Against Evansville, he batted .583 (7-for-12) with three runs scored and three RBI. Graduate OF/INF Riley King had just one hit in the UE series but it was a big one, providing an RBI-single for a 6-5 walk-off this past Saturday. His heroics were helped setup by senior Chaney Rogers' three-run homer an inning earlier to tie the game at 5. King's second hit this season was a two-run home run at Ga. State. In that game, King played left field, third base and right field.

Freshman DH/Catcher Corey Collins (.462-2-4) started all four games in the Evansville series and batted .444 (4-for-9) with a home run and two RBI plus drew five walks. Collins hit his second home run in the road victory at Georgia State. He has reached base safely in every game this year. Freshman catcher Fernando Gonzalez (.429-0-1) has a four-game hitting streak. Both have had 3-hit games this year.

The Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs, coached by Jim Chester are 1-2 after opening the season with a three-game set with Wofford. They have 14 seniors including a top pitching prospect in fireballer Mason Miller, a 6-5, 200-pound transfer from Waynesburg University. Miller struck out 11 in six innings while allowing two runs on four hits in his debut last week versus the Terriers. They are hitting .253 as a team with a 4.85 ERA and .946 fielding percentage. Senior OF Mitch McLendon leads the club in batting at .400-0-0.

Previewing The Series:
Georgia's Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin
On Ryan Webb and rotation for the Gardner-Webb series
"Ryan is doing really well, and it's been tough to keep him off the mound. He's ready to go and slated to start game two Saturday and will be on a pitch count. C.J. (Smith) is throwing game one. Jaden Woods will pitch game three. It's the same rotation as last week but Ryan will start and then Luke Wagner will jump in there."

On freshman Fernando Gonzalez earning starting catcher spot
"Fernando is really mature. When you look at a kid that's from Panama, he moves here on his own when he was 16. He lived with a couple of host families, one in Florida, one in Georgia. He's a very calm kid. His bat is the most consistent thing. He's hitting close to .500 right now, and he can be a run producer for us. He's such a good leader back there. He's had some freshman moments, and he's getting experience. He doesn't panic. He has the ability to slow things down and got a chance to be a great player."

On catching depth after Fernando Gonzalez including graduate Mason Meadows
"You're going to see Shane Marshall some this weekend, hope to see Corey Collins back there and we also got Mason Meadows. Mason has handled this very well, considering he wants to play, and he's been here a long time. He's a team captain for us, and he's been a great teammate throughout all this. I appreciate all his hard work and the way he has acted like a mentor."

Josh McAllister, INF, RJr.
On his versatility
"I want to give it my all each time I step on the field. I grew up a huge Georgia fan, and this is the only place I wanted to go. I didn't get a lot of offers out of junior college so I just did the walk-on thing here. It's been a surreal moment for me Opening Weekend. It was awesome. I told Coach Stricklin when I first got on campus that I can play anywhere. Wherever coach puts me, that's fine with me as long as I can get on the field. I don't want to limit myself to just one position."

Darryn Pasqua, RHP, RJr.
On being a veteran on the staff
"It's great having all the new freshmen. Everybody we got this year is ready to compete. It's exciting to see everyone out there and having good outings. The message the coaches have been telling all of us is to 'Be ready, you'll have an opportunity and make the most of it.' "

On catcher Fernando Gonzalez
"Fernando is fantastic. it's amazing what he can do. He makes a lot of my pitches look way better than they actually are. He does a great job of framing and blocking. He knows how to control the run game. He's got a great offensive bat as well. He's been a great addition to our team."

Radio/TV:
Saturday: Game 1 at Noon; Game 2 not before 4:30 p.m.; Sunday: 1 p.m.

All regular season Bulldog games will be available on the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network with Jeff Dantzler and David Johnston bringing you the action. Georgia games will be available on the SEC Network+ platform too.
All Georgia baseball games will be carried locally on WRFC 960 AM as it will serve as the primary home for all broadcasts. In Atlanta, Bulldogs fans can tune in to WFOM 1230 AM.
Fans can listen to every game online for free through the official website of the Bulldogs, georgiadogs.com and the Georgia Bulldogs app. Also, games that do not conflict with basketball broadcasts will be available on TuneIn. Live Stats are available via the Bulldogs app too.

Tickets/Parking:
Fans looking to purchase individual game tickets can search on StubHub. A limited number of student tickets will be available each game on a first come, first served basis.
General parking is available around campus on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests are encouraged to park in the Carlton Street Parking Deck located off Smith Street. To comply with social distance guidelines, tailgating will not be permitted for the 2021 season.
Capacity at Foley Field will be reduced to approximately 600 because of the pandemic. Masks/face coverings will be required for entry and must be worn when moving around the facility. In compliance with CDC, state and local public health guidance, seating in Foley Field will be socially distanced and be in groups of two and four.
Gates will open one hour before first pitch and please note all transactions will be contactless and cashless.

Follow The Bulldogs:
For the latest Georgia baseball news, visit www.georgiadogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on Twitter (@BaseballUGA), Facebook (@GeorgiaBaseball) and Instagram (@baseballuga).

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Players Mentioned

Jonathan Cannon

Corey Collins

Fernando Gonzalez

Riley King

Shane Marshall

Mason Meadows

Darryn Pasqua

Chaney Rogers

C.J. Smith

Connor Tate

Luke Wagner

Ryan Webb

Jaden Woods

University of Georgia Athletics