Bulldogs, Wildcats Face Off in Top-20 Series in Athens

No. 15/10 Georgia (27-6, 7-1)
vs. No. 16/16 Kentucky (21-7-1, 4-2)
Dates: Saturday, April 1-Monday, April 3, 2023
First Pitch: 2 p.m. // 6 p.m. // 7 p.m.
Location: Athens, Ga.
Stadium: Jack Turner Stadium
Admission: FREE (no tickets required // seating is first come, first served)

Media Information
Streaming: SEC Network+ (Saturday)
   Play-by-Play: Kaleb Frady
   Analysis: Karlie Smith
TV: SEC Network (Sunday // Monday)
   Play-by-play: Eric Frede
   Analysis: Madison Shipman
Live Stats: GeorgiaDogs.com
Twitter Updates: @UGAsoftball

The 15^th-ranked Georgia softball team welcomes No. 16 Kentucky to Jack Turner Stadium for a top-20 series beginning Saturday at 2 p.m.

Sunday's game will air live on SEC Network at 6 p.m. Monday's finale air in primetime on SEC Network at 7 p.m. Georgia head coach Tony Baldwin will be featured as part of Mic'd Up Mondays.

Follow the Bulldogs
» Saturday's game will stream live on SEC Network+. Kaleb Frady (play-by-play) and Karlie Smith (analysis) will be on the call.
» Sunday and Monday's games will air live on SEC Network. Eric Frede (play-by-play) and Madison Shipman (analysis) 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.
Saturday, April 1 // 2 p.m.
» Pink Out: All fans are encouraged to wear pink
» A silent auction for the Bulldogs' pink jerseys will be held between gates open (1 p.m.) and the end of the fourth inning. Winners must be present. All proceeds benefit the Piedmont Athens Regional Breast Health Center.
» The first 250 fans will receive a pink t-shirt
Sunday, April 2 // 6 p.m.
» Dad & Daughter Day #3 (registration full)
Monday, April 3 // 7 p.m.
» The first 500 fans will receive a 'Pack The Jack' flag

BULLDOGS BULLETIN
Series History
» Georgia leads the all-time series 58-16
» The Bulldogs are 26-6 in Athens in the series
» Kentucky has not visited Athens since 2017
» The Bulldogs and Wildcats last met in the SEC Tournament in 2021 in Tuscaloosa, UK won 3-0
» In the regular season, Georgia has won back-to-back series in Lexington (2018, 2021)
» Georgia has won the last five series; Kentucky last won a series against Georgia in 2012

Recapping Action
Georgia lengthened its win streak to nine games, winning its third SEC series with a pair of shutouts against Mississippi State. Georgia's seven-game SEC win streak is the longest since 2010 (11 games). The Bulldogs won the series opener 3-0 on Friday. Saturday's game featured both lights out pitching and powerful offense. Shelby Walters no-hit MSU in the five-inning contest. The no-hitter is the second of the season for Walters (last vs. Samford on March 4). The no-no is Georgia's first against an SEC opponent since May 3, 2009, when Sarah McCloud and Christie Hamilton combined for the no-hitter at Arkansas. The offense blasted five home runs, tying a season best, en route to the 10-0 run rule and the series victory.

A Look at What's Ahead
The Bulldogs have a quick turnaround as Georgia will begin a road series at No. 10 Arkansas on Thursday, April 6. The series will play out Thursday, Friday, Saturday in Fayetteville. First pitch on April 6 is set for 7 p.m., ET. Saturday's game against the Razorbacks will air nationally on SEC Network.

Georgia in the Polls
Georgia's rankings after Week 7:
     - USA Today/NFCA: 15
     - ESPN/USA Softball: 10
     - D1Softball: 8
     - Softball America: 7
     - RPI: 14

Shout Outs for Shutouts
The Bulldogs pitching staff has recorded 13 shutouts so far in 2023 including four in SEC play. Georgia's three-straight SEC shutouts is the longest streak since 2006 (4). Shelby Walters and Madison Kerpics have combined to pitch 24-straight scoreless innings entering the Kentucky series. Earlier in the season, Georgia closed out the month of February shutting out six-straight opponents. That scoreless-inning streak reached 40 innings.

The Dogs Can Swing It
Georgia is currently slugging its way to the top of the SEC, leading the league with a .618 team slugging percentage. Additionally, UGA leads the Conference with 300 hits, 55 home runs, 13 triples, and 55 doubles.

Kearney Earns Third-Career SEC Player of the Week Award
Jayda Kearney was named the SEC Player of the Week on March 28. Kearney hit .571 the week before, going 4-for-7. Three of her four hits left the yard including homering twice in game two against Mississippi State on Saturday. In that game, the junior's two two-run home runs were responsible for four of Georgia's 10 runs in the game. She recorded a 1.857 slugging percentage, drove in six runs, and concluded the week with a .667 on-base clip with a pair of walks.

Walters Tabbed SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week
Shelby Walters was named the SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week on March 28. Walters went 2-0 with a save in nine and two-thirds scoreless innings, appearing in all three games the previous week. She highlighted the week tossing Georgia's first no-hitter of an SEC opponent since 2009, not allowing a hit in five innings against Mississippi State on March 25. She began the week working four innings in her start against Kennesaw State, striking out five Owls. She picked up her second save of the season, pitching Georgia out of a two-on situation in the top of the seventh in game one against Mississippi State.

Bulldogs Start SEC Play Strong
Georgia's most recent 5-1 start was in 2018. That season, Georgia went on to go 7-2 through three series. The Bulldogs opened the 2013 SEC schedule 6-0 before being swept in week three. Georgia's best-ever start to SEC play was in 2005 when the Bulldogs went 13-0 en route to an SEC Championship. This season's seven-game SEC win streak is the best since 2010 (11).

Bulldogs, Wildcats Face Off in Top-20 Series in Athens

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jayda Kearney

Madison Kerpics

Shelby Walters

University of Georgia Athletics