University of Georgia Athletics

Thursday, April 6
Fayetteville, Ark.
7 p.m.

University of Georgia

at

Arkansas

23SB Game Notes - Arkansas

No. 14 Georgia Poised for Top-15 Road Series at No. 8 Arkansas

April 05, 2023 | Softball

No. 14/8 Georgia (29-7, 9-2)
at No. 8/9 Arkansas (27-9, 8-4)

Dates: Thursday, April 6-Saturday, April 8, 2023
First Pitch: 7 p.m., ET // 7 p.m., ET // 6 p.m., ET
Location: Fayetteville, Ark.
Stadium: Bogle Park
 
Media Information
Streaming: SEC Network+ (Thursday // Friday)
TV: SEC Network (Saturday)
   Play-by-play: Mark Neely
   Analysis: Amanda Scarborough
Live Stats: GeorgiaDogs.com
Twitter Updates: @UGAsoftball
  
The 14th-ranked Georgia softball team travels to Fayetteville, Arkansas for a top-15 SEC series with No. 8 Arkansas at Bogle Park. 
 
The series begins Thursday at 7 p.m., ET. Friday is also set to begin at 7 p.m., ET. Saturday's games will start at 6 p.m., ET, airing nationally on SEC Network.
 
Follow the Bulldogs
» Thursday and Friday's games will stream live on SEC Network+. Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Dorian Craft (analysis) will be on the call Thursday with Josh Haley (play-by-play) and Sydney Parr Lee (analysis) on Friday. 
» Saturday's game will air live on SEC Network. Mark Neely (play-by-play) and Amanda Scarborough (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.
 
BULLDOGS BULLETIN
Series History
» Georgia leads the all-time series 38-22
» The Bulldogs are 15-10 in Fayetteville in the series
» Georgia has not visited Bogle Park since 2017; UGA dropped the first game of the series then won games two and three for the series win
» Arkansas swept the Bulldogs in the last series meeting in 2021 in Athens
» Prior to that, Georgia and Arkansas faced off in the SEC Tournament in 2018 and 2019
 
Recapping Action
Georgia lengthened its win streak to 11 games and won its fourth SEC series of the season, taking games one and two against No. 16 Kentucky at Jack Turner Stadium, 9-5, 4-3. A grand slam off the bat of Sydney Kuma in the first inning of game one set the tone for the Bulldogs to take the series. Georgia blasted three home runs in the fourth inning to take lead. Kentucky evaded the sweep, taking Monday's game 4-0. 
 
A Look at What's Ahead
Georgia returns to Athens to host Georgia Southern in a midweek contest Wednesday, April 12. First pitch between the in-state foes is set for 6:30 p.m. The Bulldogs then travel to Gainesville, Florida for a three-game SEC series against No. 15/18 Florida April 14-16. 
 
Georgia in the Polls
Georgia's rankings after Week 8: 
     - USA Today/NFCA: 14
     - ESPN/USA Softball: 8
     - D1Softball: 8
     - Softball America: 6
     - RPI: 13
 
Coaching Connections
Georgia volunteer coach and former Razorback Danielle Gibson Whorton will make her return to Fayetteville this weekend. Gibson Whorton was a two-time All-American at Arkansas (2021, 2022) and was a finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and the Honda Sport Award for Softball as a senior. She earned multiple conference and NFCA All-Region honors both at Arkansas and Arizona State in her career. 
 
Arkansas assistant coach Yolanda McRae was an outfielder for the Bulldogs in 2003 and was part of the program's first-ever SEC regular-season title. She spent the 2006 and 2014 seasons as a volunteer assistant in Athens. In her second coaching stint with Lu Harris-Champer, McRae helped Georgia to the 2014 SEC Tournament title and an appearance in the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
The Dogs Can Swing It
Georgia is currently slugging its way to the top of the SEC, leading the league with a .609 team slugging percentage. Additionally, UGA leads the Conference with 319 hits, 61 home runs, 13 triples, and second in the league with 57 doubles. 
 
Shout Outs for Shutouts
The Bulldogs pitching staff has recorded 13 shutouts in 2023 including four in SEC play. Georgia's three-straight SEC shutouts was the longest streak since 2006 (4). Shelby Walters and Madison Kerpics had 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. 
 
Bulldogs Start SEC Play Strong
Georgia's began the 2023 SEC schedule winning nine of its first 10 games, that's the best start for the Dogs since 2005. 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 nine-game SEC win streak was the best since 2010 (11). 
 
 

Players Mentioned

RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
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