Georgia to Host Bulldog Classic This Weekend

No. 18/16 Georgia (13-4)
hosting the Bulldog Classic
Dates: March 3-5, 2023
Location: Athens, Ga.
Stadium: Jack Turner Stadium
Admission: FREE (no tickets required // seating is first come, first served)
Participating teams:
   Ball State (5-5)
   Stetson (12-5)
   Samford (5-10)
Georgia's Schedule:
   Friday, March 3
     3:30 p.m. – vs. Ball State
     6 p.m. – vs. Stetson
   Saturday, March 4
     3:30 p.m. – vs. Samford
     6 p.m. – vs. Ball State
   Sunday, March 5
     1 p.m. – vs. Samford

Media Information
Streaming: SEC Network+
Live Stats: GeorgiaDogs.com
Twitter Updates: @UGAsoftball

The Georgia Bulldogs will host the final tournament of the season this weekend at Jack Turner Stadium. Georgia will play host to Ball State, Stetson, and Samford in the 10-game round robin tournament set to begin Friday morning in Athens.

Follow the Bulldogs
» Every Georgia game of the Bulldog Classic will stream live on SEC Network+. Jack Sadighian will be on the call.
» Live stat links can be found on the softball schedule at GeorgiaDogs.com.
» Live Twitter updates will be available on the official Twitter page of Georgia softball, @UGAsoftball.

Upcoming Promotions at Jack Turner Stadium
» Admission to every home regular season Georgia softball game is FREE. No tickets are required. Seating is first come, first served. The UGA clear bag policy is in effect.

BULLDOGS BULLETIN
Series History
Ball State
» Georgia leads all-time series 3-0
» The last two meetings (2004, 2009) were in Athens
» The first-ever meeting was in 2000 in Tampa, Florida
Stetson
» Georgia leads all-time series 2-0
» Both meetings have been on neutral fields in 2002 (St. Augustine, Florida) and 2016 (Orlando, Florida)
Samford
» Georgia leads all-time series 3-0
» All three meetings have been in Athens (2018, 2020)

Recapping Last Week's Action
Georgia earned an 8-0 victory in six innings over rival Georgia Tech Tuesday evening at Mewborn Field. With the shutout, the Bulldogs tied the program record of six-straight shutout victories, tying the mark most recently achieved in 2018. Shelby Walters pitched the complete-game shutout, allowing four hits. She was perfect the first time through the Georgia Tech order. She concluded the game with four strikeouts. The offense was led by two-hit performances from junior Sydney Chambley and sophomore Lyndi Rae Davis. Chambley joined freshman Marisa Miller driving in two runs apiece. Georgia totaled eight hits in the game.

A Look at What's Ahead
The first home midweek game will be Wednesday, March 8 when the Bulldogs host Georgia State. First pitch against the Panthers is set for 6:30 p.m. at Jack Turner Stadium. Southeastern Conference play begins next weekend against No. 19/21 Auburn in Athens. The three-game series kicks off Friday, March 10. Saturday's game between the Bulldogs and Tigers will air nationally on SEC Network.

Georgia in the Polls
Georgia's rankings after Week 3:
     - USA Today/NFCA: 18
     - ESPN/USA Softball: t-16
     - D1Softball: 18
     - Softball America: 18

Pitching Staff Spins Six-Straight Shutouts
As a staff, Georgia pitchers recorded five shutouts in five games in the Georgia Classic Feb. 24-26 then went on the road and blanked rival Georgia Tech on Feb. 28. The shutout of the Yellow Jackets tied the program record of six-consecutive shutouts, most recently achieved in 2018. The trio of Madison Kerpics, Shelby Walters, and Destin Howard havn't allowed a run in 39 innings of work, holding opponents to a .137 batting average, striking out 26 combined batters.

Kerpics Tabbed SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week
Junior Madison Kerpics was named the SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 27. Kerpics went 3-0 in three starts in the Georgia Classic. She pitched 19 scoreless innings, allowing just seven hits and holding opposing batters to a .111 average. She fanned 18 batters on the weekend. She began the weekend pitching a seven-inning complete game shutout of California Baptist. Kerpics tied a career-best 11 strikeouts against Hofstra on Saturday in her five-inning outing, allowing only two hits. She concluded the weekend with a one-hit seven-inning shutout of Lipscomb. This was Kerpics' first SEC Pitcher of the Week award and the first Georgia pitcher to earn the honor since Mary Wilson Avant on April 24, 2018.

Georgia to Take Part in 2024 TaxAct Clearwater Invitational
It was announced Sunday, Feb. 19 that Georgia will take part in the 2024 TaxAct Clearwater Invitational in Clearwater, Florida. The Dogs are one of 16 top-tier programs selected to participate in the tournament next season. Georgia last appeared in the tournament in 2020.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sydney Chambley

Lyndi Rae Davis

Destin Howard

Madison Kerpics

Marisa Miller

Shelby Walters

University of Georgia Athletics