University of Georgia Athletics
Wednesday, February 18
Athens, Ga.
4:00 p.m.
University of Georgia
vs
Samford
No. 12 Georgia Set to Host Samford in First Midweek Non-Conference Clash of the Season
February 17, 2026 | Softball
ATHENS, Ga. – The No. 12 Georgia Bulldogs will host the Samford Bulldogs on Wednesday, February 18 at the Jack Turner Stadium with first pitch set for 4:00 p.m. ET. Georgia enters the contest at 9-2 after a 5-1 stretch at the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational last week.
No. 12/16 Georgia
vs. Samford
Location: Athens, Ga.
Venue: Jack Turner Stadium
First Pitch: 4:00 p.m. ET
General Admission Gates: 3:00 p.m. ET
Promotion: Cowgirl Hats for first 500 fans
Media Information
Streaming: SEC Network+
Live Updates: GeorgiaDogs.com
X Updates: @UGASoftball
Leading Off
Georgia Softball glimmered last week in Clearwater at the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational and is now set to host Samford at The Jack on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Series History
- Georgia is 5-0 all-time against Samford and won the previous match up in 2023, 11-3.
- Baldwin is 2-0 against Samford with his only two games against Samford coming in the 2023 Bulldog Classic in Athens, Ga.
- All five previous contests between the two schools have been played in Athens.
- Four of the five previous games have been run-rule decisions for the Bulldogs.
- In the all-time series against Samford, Georgia has outscored the visiting Bulldogs, 48-5.
Georgia in the Polls
Georgia in the Polls: Week Two
- NFCA/GoRout: 16
- ESPN/USA Softball: 12
- D1Softball: 11
- Softball America: 9
Gordon Tabbed National Player of the Week
Senior Sarah Gordon was tabbed the National Player of the Week by D1Softball, Softball America and Softball on SI following play in Clearwater, Florida. During the week, Gordon went 12-18 with nine runs, 10 RBIs, six doubles, one triple, three home runs and two walks while only striking out once. She also slugged 1.444 while boasting a 0.700 OBP with a perfect fielding percentage and a team-high 17 put-outs.
Clearwater Team of the Tournament
Sarah Gordon and Kierstin Roose were named to the 2026 Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational Team of the Tournament following their performances in Florida.
Georgia was one of four schools with two or more players named to the team.
National Recognition
A trio of Bulldogs have earned preseason recognition from both Softball America and D1Softball. In the Softball America preseason Top 100 Player Rankings, Sarah Gordon checked in at No. 78 and transfer pitcher Addisen Fisher spotted in at No. 93. More, Jaydyn Goodwin, Gordon and Fisher were tabbed as the No. 12 outfielder, the No. 8 UTL player and the No. 23 pitcher, respectively, by the outlet.
D1Softball had three Georgia players in it's D100 preseason Player Rankings with Goodwin at No. 52, Gordon at No. 67 and Fisher at No. 74. Positionally, by D1Softball, Goodwin was pinned as the No. 20 outfielder, Gordon as the No. 14 outfielder and Fisher as the No. 25 pitcher.
Eyes on the Freshman
Four Bulldog freshmen earned spots on Softball America and D1Softball's preseason Freshman Watch Lists. Pitchers Presley Harrison and Ada Little along with infielder Brooke Smith were all selected to the Softball America Freshman Watch List. More, Harrison and Little joined infielder Gabi Novickas on D1Softball's SEC Freshman Watch List.
New Faces, New Places
12 new players will don the red and black this season with six transfer athletes and six freshmen.
Out of the portal, Baldwin and his staff welcome sophomore pitchers Addisen Fisher and Maddie Johnson. Fisher, a UCLA transfer, was tabbed to the Big-10 All-Freshman Team last season, as well as the D1Softball Freshman All-American First Team. Johnson, an Athens native, arrives from Georgia Southern after being named to the All-Sun Belt Conference First Team and to the D1Softball Freshman All-American Second Team. Outfielders Natalie Ray and Delani Sullivan join infielders Bailey Lindemuth and Keirsten Roose to round out the portal class. Ray is a North Georgia transfer who started her career at Ole Miss while Sullivan arrives from SEC opponent Kentucky. Lindemuth comes to Athens after reaching the Womens' College World Series with Texas Tech last season, and graduate transfer Roose joins the Bulldogs after four strong seasons with Coastal Carolina.
Two of Georgia's six freshman signees will join the pitching staff in lefty Ada Little from Georgetown, Ky and the right-handed Presley Harrison from Baxley, Ga. Infielders Gabi Novickas, Brooke Smith and Katelin Smith hail from Chicago, Ill., Brandon, Miss. and Glennville, Ga. Outfielder Natalie Donaldson, a native of DeWitt, Mich. rounds out the six-person freshman class and the 12 newcomers.
Clearwater Recap
After suffering a loss in the opener in Clearwater to No. 23 Oklahoma State, the Bulldogs rallied for five successive wins including two ranked wins to close out play in Florida.
On Thursday, down 6-0 going into the sixth inning, the Bulldogs scored three in the bottom of the frame before adding another two runs in the bottom of the seventh against Oklahoma State. Later that afternoon after falling to Oklahoma State, 6-5, Georgia rebounded with a 6-5 win over No. 8 Nebraska.
On Saturday, the Bulldog bats came alive in successive five inning, rule-rule victories over NC State and UCF. Georgia took down the Wolfpack, 16-2 (5 inn.), and UCF, 13-5 (5 inn.).
To end play in Clearwater, Georgia won both games against Northwestern and No. 22 Duke. With the score level after three innings against Northwestern, the Bulldogs punched a seven-spot in the top of the fourth inning en route to an 8-3 win. Later, against Duke, Georgia hit three straight home runs in the top of the first inning - the first time since Feb. 9, 2024 against Murray State - to run out 9-1 (5 inn.) victors.
Over the course of the weekend, Georgia tallied 57 runs in six games. More pointedly, in the fourth inning alone across all six games, the Bulldogs tallied 26 runs.
What's Up Next?
Baldwin's side will welcome Seton Hall, Utah State and Virginia Tech to Athens this weekend for the 23rd Annual Georgia Classic at the Jack Turner Stadium. A complete schedule is compiled below (home team listed first):
Friday, Feb, 20
10:30 a.m. - Seton Hall vs. Virginia Tech
1:00 p.m. - Virginia Tech vs. Utah State
3:30 p.m. - Georgia vs. Seton Hall
6:00 p.m. - Georgia vs. Utah State
Saturday, Feb, 21
10:30 a.m. - Virginia Tech vs. Seton Hall
1:00 p.m. - Seton Hall vs. Utah State
3:30 p.m. - Georgia vs. Virginia Tech
6:00 p.m. - Georgia vs. Utah State
Sunday, Feb, 22
10:30 a.m. - Utah State vs. Seton Hall
1:00 p.m. - Georgia vs. Virginia tech
2025 Season Recap
- Georgia finished the 2025 season at 35-23 after reaching the Gainesville Super Regional, falling one win short of a sixth trip back to Oklahoma City.
- The Bulldogs tallied a 7-16 mark in conference play, finishing 12th overall in the Southeastern Conference.
- In the SEC Tournament, hosted in Athens, Georgia reached the second round of play before falling to No. 5-seed Arkansas.
- Senior Dallis Goodnight was named Second Team All-SEC after hitting at a .345 clip for 45 runs off 61 hits with four doubles, four triples, two home runs and 11 RBIs.
- Four Bulldogs earned NFCA All-South Region honors. Goodnight and Jaydyn Goodwin landed on the Second Team, and Sarah Gordon and Marisa Miller were named to the Third Team.
- Rising senior Destin Howard was named to the 2025 SEC Softball Community Service Team for her actions within and commitment to her home and Athens communities.
- 53,867 fans packed into The Jack over the course of the 2025 season - a new season record. More, during the series against No. 3 LSU, a program-best 7,098 fans were in attendance.
No. 12/16 Georgia
vs. Samford
Location: Athens, Ga.
Venue: Jack Turner Stadium
First Pitch: 4:00 p.m. ET
General Admission Gates: 3:00 p.m. ET
Promotion: Cowgirl Hats for first 500 fans
Media Information
Streaming: SEC Network+
Live Updates: GeorgiaDogs.com
X Updates: @UGASoftball
Leading Off
Georgia Softball glimmered last week in Clearwater at the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational and is now set to host Samford at The Jack on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Series History
- Georgia is 5-0 all-time against Samford and won the previous match up in 2023, 11-3.
- Baldwin is 2-0 against Samford with his only two games against Samford coming in the 2023 Bulldog Classic in Athens, Ga.
- All five previous contests between the two schools have been played in Athens.
- Four of the five previous games have been run-rule decisions for the Bulldogs.
- In the all-time series against Samford, Georgia has outscored the visiting Bulldogs, 48-5.
Georgia in the Polls
Georgia in the Polls: Week Two
- NFCA/GoRout: 16
- ESPN/USA Softball: 12
- D1Softball: 11
- Softball America: 9
Gordon Tabbed National Player of the Week
Senior Sarah Gordon was tabbed the National Player of the Week by D1Softball, Softball America and Softball on SI following play in Clearwater, Florida. During the week, Gordon went 12-18 with nine runs, 10 RBIs, six doubles, one triple, three home runs and two walks while only striking out once. She also slugged 1.444 while boasting a 0.700 OBP with a perfect fielding percentage and a team-high 17 put-outs.
Clearwater Team of the Tournament
Sarah Gordon and Kierstin Roose were named to the 2026 Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational Team of the Tournament following their performances in Florida.
Georgia was one of four schools with two or more players named to the team.
National Recognition
A trio of Bulldogs have earned preseason recognition from both Softball America and D1Softball. In the Softball America preseason Top 100 Player Rankings, Sarah Gordon checked in at No. 78 and transfer pitcher Addisen Fisher spotted in at No. 93. More, Jaydyn Goodwin, Gordon and Fisher were tabbed as the No. 12 outfielder, the No. 8 UTL player and the No. 23 pitcher, respectively, by the outlet.
D1Softball had three Georgia players in it's D100 preseason Player Rankings with Goodwin at No. 52, Gordon at No. 67 and Fisher at No. 74. Positionally, by D1Softball, Goodwin was pinned as the No. 20 outfielder, Gordon as the No. 14 outfielder and Fisher as the No. 25 pitcher.
Eyes on the Freshman
Four Bulldog freshmen earned spots on Softball America and D1Softball's preseason Freshman Watch Lists. Pitchers Presley Harrison and Ada Little along with infielder Brooke Smith were all selected to the Softball America Freshman Watch List. More, Harrison and Little joined infielder Gabi Novickas on D1Softball's SEC Freshman Watch List.
New Faces, New Places
12 new players will don the red and black this season with six transfer athletes and six freshmen.
Out of the portal, Baldwin and his staff welcome sophomore pitchers Addisen Fisher and Maddie Johnson. Fisher, a UCLA transfer, was tabbed to the Big-10 All-Freshman Team last season, as well as the D1Softball Freshman All-American First Team. Johnson, an Athens native, arrives from Georgia Southern after being named to the All-Sun Belt Conference First Team and to the D1Softball Freshman All-American Second Team. Outfielders Natalie Ray and Delani Sullivan join infielders Bailey Lindemuth and Keirsten Roose to round out the portal class. Ray is a North Georgia transfer who started her career at Ole Miss while Sullivan arrives from SEC opponent Kentucky. Lindemuth comes to Athens after reaching the Womens' College World Series with Texas Tech last season, and graduate transfer Roose joins the Bulldogs after four strong seasons with Coastal Carolina.
Two of Georgia's six freshman signees will join the pitching staff in lefty Ada Little from Georgetown, Ky and the right-handed Presley Harrison from Baxley, Ga. Infielders Gabi Novickas, Brooke Smith and Katelin Smith hail from Chicago, Ill., Brandon, Miss. and Glennville, Ga. Outfielder Natalie Donaldson, a native of DeWitt, Mich. rounds out the six-person freshman class and the 12 newcomers.
Clearwater Recap
After suffering a loss in the opener in Clearwater to No. 23 Oklahoma State, the Bulldogs rallied for five successive wins including two ranked wins to close out play in Florida.
On Thursday, down 6-0 going into the sixth inning, the Bulldogs scored three in the bottom of the frame before adding another two runs in the bottom of the seventh against Oklahoma State. Later that afternoon after falling to Oklahoma State, 6-5, Georgia rebounded with a 6-5 win over No. 8 Nebraska.
On Saturday, the Bulldog bats came alive in successive five inning, rule-rule victories over NC State and UCF. Georgia took down the Wolfpack, 16-2 (5 inn.), and UCF, 13-5 (5 inn.).
To end play in Clearwater, Georgia won both games against Northwestern and No. 22 Duke. With the score level after three innings against Northwestern, the Bulldogs punched a seven-spot in the top of the fourth inning en route to an 8-3 win. Later, against Duke, Georgia hit three straight home runs in the top of the first inning - the first time since Feb. 9, 2024 against Murray State - to run out 9-1 (5 inn.) victors.
Over the course of the weekend, Georgia tallied 57 runs in six games. More pointedly, in the fourth inning alone across all six games, the Bulldogs tallied 26 runs.
What's Up Next?
Baldwin's side will welcome Seton Hall, Utah State and Virginia Tech to Athens this weekend for the 23rd Annual Georgia Classic at the Jack Turner Stadium. A complete schedule is compiled below (home team listed first):
Friday, Feb, 20
10:30 a.m. - Seton Hall vs. Virginia Tech
1:00 p.m. - Virginia Tech vs. Utah State
3:30 p.m. - Georgia vs. Seton Hall
6:00 p.m. - Georgia vs. Utah State
Saturday, Feb, 21
10:30 a.m. - Virginia Tech vs. Seton Hall
1:00 p.m. - Seton Hall vs. Utah State
3:30 p.m. - Georgia vs. Virginia Tech
6:00 p.m. - Georgia vs. Utah State
Sunday, Feb, 22
10:30 a.m. - Utah State vs. Seton Hall
1:00 p.m. - Georgia vs. Virginia tech
2025 Season Recap
- Georgia finished the 2025 season at 35-23 after reaching the Gainesville Super Regional, falling one win short of a sixth trip back to Oklahoma City.
- The Bulldogs tallied a 7-16 mark in conference play, finishing 12th overall in the Southeastern Conference.
- In the SEC Tournament, hosted in Athens, Georgia reached the second round of play before falling to No. 5-seed Arkansas.
- Senior Dallis Goodnight was named Second Team All-SEC after hitting at a .345 clip for 45 runs off 61 hits with four doubles, four triples, two home runs and 11 RBIs.
- Four Bulldogs earned NFCA All-South Region honors. Goodnight and Jaydyn Goodwin landed on the Second Team, and Sarah Gordon and Marisa Miller were named to the Third Team.
- Rising senior Destin Howard was named to the 2025 SEC Softball Community Service Team for her actions within and commitment to her home and Athens communities.
- 53,867 fans packed into The Jack over the course of the 2025 season - a new season record. More, during the series against No. 3 LSU, a program-best 7,098 fans were in attendance.
Players Mentioned
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OF
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INF/OF
/ Softball
C/UT
/ Softball
RHP
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RHP
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RHP
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INF
/ Softball
LHP
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C
/ Softball
INF
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OF
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INF
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INF
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OF
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