Live Updates - Game One Of The University of Georgia V.S. Samford University

Follow along as the University of Georgia (#9) faces off against Samford University in game one of this 3 game series.

Georgia's Kolby Branch (9) celebrates after hitting a grand slam during a NCAA Athens Regional baseball game against UNCW in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, June 1, 2024. | Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK

The University of Georgia faces Samford University in a three-game series this weekend. UGA is 3-1, and Samford is 2-2. UGA moved up the rankings again they are now ranked #9 in the country. Samford lost a close game against Alabama on Tuesday.

The University of Georgia is coming off a win against USC Upstate, but they may have lost a key role in their lineup. Kenny Ishikawa was hit in the foot by a pitch and was later taken out of the game. He would be later spotted with a boot on his foot. Ishikawa is a transfer they picked up from Seattle University and can play both outfield and pitcher.

Even though they may have lost Ishikawa for some time, the Bulldogs depth is deep. Scott Newman came in to replace Ishikawa, and he played a great game at the plate and on the field. There is still no word on when Ishikawa will return.

The Georgia Spike Squad get hyped. — The Georgia Spike Squad get hyped before the start of a NCAA college football game against UAB in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. | Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Georgia offense seems to be off to a hot start, as they have averaged 10 runs per game. Even though the Dawgs hit the ball hard, they tend to leave runners on base. Clutch hits seem to be a little problem, but they are extremely unlucky at the plate at times.

The pitching for the Dawgs has been good and bad. They would either start the game well and lose touch towards the middle of the game. Or start weak and get better as the game goes on. The Dawgs have only allowed an average of 3.25 runs per game. Thanks to pitchers finding their way out of a jam.

The Samford Bulldogs have averaged 5.75 runs through 4 games, and have allowed 5.25 runs per game. During one of their games against Belmont, they lost 14-4 in 7 innings. But other than that, they’ve been tough to score runs on as they have only allowed around 2.33 runs per game.

Georgia coach Wes Johnson during an NCAA baseball game. — Georgia coach Wes Johnson during an NCAA baseball game against UIC in Athens, Ga., on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. | Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Dawgs will look to jump off to an early start to help the pitching settle in. And that all starts with the way the Dawgs play offense, hitting the ball hard. Daniel Jackson has been a standout hitter for the Dawgs, as he has provided a couple of home runs. Every time Jackson steps up to the plate, he consistently hits the ball with an exit velocity over 95 mph.

Starting lineup for the visiting Samford Bulldogs: starting on the mound, RHP Mason Blasche, ss Gus Gandy, 1b Jackson Harris, cf Jake Souders, 2b Cade Carr, lf Luke Boykin, rf Trey Higgins, 3b Parker McDonald, dh Charlie Bozeman, and catcher Eddie Marshall.

Starting lineup for the Georgia Bulldogs: starting on the mound, RHP Joey Volchko, 2b Ryan Black, 3b Tre Phelps, c Daniel Jackson, rf Cole Johnson, lf Henry Allen, 1b Jordy Oriach, cf Rylan Lujo, dh Jack Arcamone, and shortstop Kolby Branch.

May 21, 2025; Hoover, AL, USA; Georgia left fielder Tre Phelps (1). — May 21, 2025; Hoover, AL, USA; Georgia left fielder Tre Phelps (1) follows through as he connects with a pitch during the game with Oklahoma in the second round of the SEC Baseball Tournament at the Hoover Met. | Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

1st Inning: Samford Goes Three Up Three Down On 8 Pitches. Dawgs add 3 From Henry Allen's Three Run Home Run (3-0 UGA).

Top: RHP Joey Volchko starts on the mound for the Dawgs. Gus Gandy gets the game going by flying out to right field on the first pitch. Harris is up next and hits a short hop to third base and is thrown out at first. Souders climbs in next and strikes out swinging.

Bottom: RHP Mason Blasche starts on the mound for Samford. Ryan Black starts things off for the Dawgs by striking out swinging. Phelps climbs in next and gets hit by the pitch. Jackson is next up and rips a single to left-center field. Johnson is up with a runner in scoring position, but strikes out swinging. Allen looks to come up clutch, and he does; he hits a 3-run home run to right-center field and feeds the tree. Oriach is next and hits a ground ball into the shift and is thrown out at first.

2nd Inning: Samford Adds 1 From Luke Boykin's Deep Ball, But Leave Two Men On Base. UGA Not Able To Score The Runner On Third. (3-1 UGA).

Top: Cade Carr leads off for Samford and hits a hard ground ball to third base, but is thrown out at first. Boykin steps up next and hits a home run off the batters eye. Higgins follows it up by striking out swinging. McDonald climbs in next and ropes a single to center field. Bozeman looks to keep the inning going, and he does by drawing a walk in four pitches. Marshall looks in next and hits a deep fly ball to center field, but it's caught on the warning track.

Bottom: Rylan Lujo will get things started in the bottom of the second by ripping a single past the diving third basemen. Arcamone is next up, but during his at-bat, he calls the medical team over, but stays in the game. Arcamone then strikes out looking. Lujo steals second base. Branch climbs in next with a runner in scoring position. Lujo advances to third on a wild pitch. Branch lines out on a 102.5 mph exit velocity to third base. Black steps back into the box, and with two outs and a runner on third, he hits a swinging bunt and is thrown out at first.

3rd Inning: Samford Goes Three Up Three Down Again. Despite A Leadoff Hit, Dawgs Are Not Able To Score (3-1 UGA).

Top: Gus Gandy starts the 3rd inning by hitting a ground ball to second base, and is thrown out at first. Harris is next up and strikes out looking. Souders climbs in next and strikes out looking.

Bottom: Tre Phelps leads things off for the Dawgs and he ropes a single to center field extending his hitting streak to 19 games (dating back to last season). Jackson steps up and pops out in the infield. Johnson is next up and hits a blooper to right field, but the right fielder makes a diving catch to rob Johnson. Allen steps back in after homering in the first inning, but this time he strikes out swinging.

4th Inning: Samford Gets A Leadoff Hit But Nothing Else. UGA Add 3 More From A Pair Of Homers By Rylan Lujo and Kolby Branch (6-1 UGA).

Top: Cade Carr steps up first for Samford, and hits a single off the tip of the extended glove of Branch. Boykin is next and flies out to deep right field. Higgins climbs in next and he strikes out swinging on three pitches. McDonald looks to extend the inning but he strikes out swinging.

Bottom: Jordy Oriach starts the bottom of the 4th by just missing a homer and flies out to left field. Lujo is next up and hits a home run down the third base line. Arcamone climbs in next and drills a single to right field. Branch hits a sky ball that carries the trees in left field for a two run home run. Samford calls a mound visit and calls in a new pitcher, RHP #9 Drew Druckenmiller. Black will face him first and he strikes out swinging. Phelps looks to add more damage, but strikes out swinging.

5th Inning: Samford Has No Offensive Life, Joey Volchko Gets Through 5 Innings. UGA Unable To Add More Damage. (6-1 UGA).

Top: Charlie Bozeman starts the top of the 5th by striking out swinging. Marshall looks to get his first hit of the season, but he draws a full count walk. Back to the top of the lineup as Gandy climbs back in, and he hits a dribbler that is fielded by Phelps and is thrown out at first, Marshall advances to second. Harris is next and grounds out to second base. Joey Volchko gets through 5 Innings.

Bottom: Daniel Jackson gets things going by hitting a half-swing bunt, and is out at first. Johnson climbs in next and flies out in foul territory near third base. Allen looks to stay hot, and gets hit in the shoulder on a 79 mph offspeed pitch. Oriach looks to support a two our rally, but he grounds out to second base.

6th Inning: Samford Goes Three And Out, Joey Volchko Gets Through 6 Innings With Ease. UGA Scores 3 Again Extending The Lead (9-1 UGA).

Top: Jake Souders starts the 6th inning by grounding out to second. Carr climbs in next and hits a rocket to third base, but Tre Phelps snags it for the line out. Boykin steps in to hopefully avoid another 3 and out, but he strikes out swinging.

Bottom: Rylan Lujo leads off for the Dawgs and draws a walk on four straight pitches. Samford calls a mound visit, and changes pitchers to LHP #29 Andrew Arnold. Arcamone will be the first to face him, and draws a full count walk. Branch is next and rips a RBI single to left field, Lujo scores. Black looks to add on, and he does by hitting a RBI single up the middle, Arcamone scores, Branch advances to third. Samford calls a mound visit, and decides to change pitchers to RHP #12 Trey Sanders. Phelps looks to pour it on. Black steals second base. Phelps hits a RBI ground out to shortstop, Branch scores. Jackson climbs into the box, and strikes out swinging. Johnson is next up and with a runner on second with two out he draws a walk. Allen climbs back in and flies out in foul territory near first base.

7th Inning: Samford Hits Into A Double Play Which Stops Momentum. Dawgs Score 2 To Run Rule Samford (11-1 UGA).

Top: Joey Volchko's night comes to an end as UGA changes pitchers to RHP #65 Mason Kosowick. #1 Pierce Dutton pitch hits for Trey Higgins, and he draws a walk on a full count. McDonald will be next and he grounds a ball to second base and hits into a double play. #21 Braden Rosenthal will come in to pitch hit for Bozeman. Rosenthal strikes out swinging.

Bottom: Jordy Oriach will get things started in the bottom of the 7th by hitting into the shift again and is thrown out at first. #15 Ty Peeples comes in to pitch hit for Rylan Lujo and he gets hit by the pitch. Arcamone climbs in next and draws a walk on a pitch violation. Branch steps up with a runner in scoring position. Samford pitcher, Sanders, balks and both runners advance a base. Now Branch has two runners in scoring position, and he draws a walk on a wild pitch. Peeples scores. #0 Ryan Wynn pitch runs for Branch. Black steps up to the plate with a runner on third and first, and hits a fielders choice and Arcamone scores to end the game.

Final Score: 11-1 UGA.