No. 5 Georgia Hosts No. 14 Alabama in SEC Opener

No. 5 Georgia (21-3, 0-0)
vs. No. 14/15 Alabama (21-3, 1-2)
Dates: Friday, Mach 15-Sunday, March 17, 2024
First Pitch: 6 p.m. / 12 p.m. / 12 p.m.
Location: Athens, Ga.
Stadium: Jack Turner Stadium
   Admission: FREE (no tickets required / seating is first come, first served)
Game Day Central & Fan Information: https://gado.gs/bjt

Media Information
TV: SEC Network (Saturday, Sunday)
   Play-by-play: Matt Schumacker
   Analysis: Amanda Scarborough
Streaming: SEC Network+ (Friday)
   Play-by-play: Kaleb Frady
   Analysis: Megan Wiggins
Live Stats: GeorgiaDogs.com
Twitter Updates: @UGAsoftball

The fifth-ranked Georgia softball team opens Southeastern Conference play this weekend when No. 14/15 Alabama travels to Athens for a three-game series.

The series kicks off Friday night at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday's games will both air live on SEC Network at 12 p.m.

Follow the Bulldogs
- Friday game will stream live on SEC Network+. Kaleb Frady (play-by-play) and Megan Wiggins (analysis) will be on the call.
- Saturday and Sunday's games will air live on SEC Network+. Matt Schumacker (play-by-play) and Amanda Scarborough (analysis) will be on the call.
- Live stat links can be found on the softball schedule page on GeorgiaDogs.com.
- Live Twitter updates will be available on the official Twitter page of Georgia softball, @UGAsoftball.

Fan Information and Upcoming Promotions at Jack Turner Stadium (https://gado.gs/bjt)
- Admission to every regular-season home game is free; no tickets are required to enter Jack Turner Stadium. Seating is first come, first served. Gates open one hour prior to first pitch.
- For the 2024 season, parking is available in the lot closest to S. Milledge Ave. The back lot is closed due to construction.
- The UGA Clear Bag Policy is in effect.
Alabama Game Promotions
- Friday, March 15
   - The first 500 fans will receive a long-sleeve t-shirt
- Sunday, March 17
   - Dad & Daughter Day #1 (registration full)

BULLDOGS BULLETIN
Series History
- Georgia trails the all-time series 21-50
- In Athens, Georgia is 12-19 against the Tide
- Alabama has won 10 of the last 11 meetings
- The last time Alabama came to Athens, the Tide swept the series in 2021
- Georgia last won a series against Alabama in 2018 in Athens, winning games one and two of the series

Georgia in the Polls
Georgia in the Poll: Week 5
     - USA Today/NFCA: 5
     - ESPN/USA Softball: 5
     - D1Softball: 7
     - Softball America: 6
     - RPI: 4

Recapping Action
Georgia defeated Georgia Tech 6-3 on Wednesday in front of a crowd of 1,312 at Jack Turner Stadium. Sara Mosley highlighted the game, hitting a pair of two-run home runs. The win snapped Georgia Tech's 15-game win streak heading into the rivalry matchup. Jayda Kearney finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate, also hitting a home run. Lyndi Rae Davis drew three walks out of the leadoff spot. Tyler Ellison hit her first-career home run in a pinch-hit opportunity late in the game. Lilli Backes (8-1) earned the win in her start, working into the seventh inning. She struck out five, allowing three runs on two hits. Backes took a no-hit bid into the fifth inning. Shelby Walters pitched the seventh inning, slamming the door on the Yellow Jackets' comeback bid.

A Look at What's Ahead
Georgia's 10-game homestand ends on Wednesday when Georgia Southern heads north to Athens. The first pitch against the Eagles is set for 6 p.m. The Bulldogs will then hit the road for their first road SEC series at Ole Miss on March 22-24.

Leadoff Lyndi Finds New Home in Order
Lyndi Rae Davis has found a new spot at the top of the Georgia batting order. Since taking over the leadoff role on March 8, Davis has drawn eight walks and put together a .545 on-base clip. In six games, she's drawn a walk and scored two times, and hit a leadoff home run to lead off games. Twice, she's drawn three walks in a game, both career-highs. She leads Georgia with 18 walks this season. Her 0.78 walks per game ranks third in the SEC.

Kerpics Pitches Birthday No-No
Senior Madison Kerpics pitched a no-hitter against Jacksonville State on Saturday, March 9, which also happened to be her 22nd birthday. She allowed just two walks in the five-inning outing and struck out three Gamecocks. The no-hitter was the 50th in the history of Georgia softball.

Baldwin Notches 100th Victory
Tony Baldwin recorded his 100th victory when Georgia beat Boise State at Stanford on March 1.

A February for the Books
Georgia concluded the month of February with a 13-1 record. This is the ninth time Georgia finished the month with one or no losses and the first since the 2019 season (2002, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2024).

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Players Mentioned

Lilli Backes

Lyndi Rae Davis

Tyler Ellison

Jayda Kearney

Madison Kerpics

Sara Mosley

Shelby Walters