PREVIEW: Georgia Baseball Set to Begin Conference Play
In the midst of the best start in program history, the Georgia Bulldogs baseball program will enter conference play this weekend with an overall record of 17-1.
Charlie Condon — who has played nearly every defensive position imaginable — has been the unquestioned star of an explosive Bulldog offense. He currently leads the NCAA in batting average (.569), on-base percentage (.670), slugging (1.308), total bases (85), hits (37) and home runs (13).
As a team, the Georgia offense ranks within the top-15 in base on balls (134), batting average (.335), doubles (43), hits (199), on-base percentage (.477) and runs (194). The Bulldogs lead the country in home runs (52) and slugging (.684), which means Condon is not the only Georgia batter in a groove at the moment.
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Outside of Condon, 12 different Bulldog batters have left the yard at least once. Nine of those 12 have multiple home runs on the season, with Slate Alford (7), Dylan Goldstein (6) and Kolby Branch (5) also putting together strong starts offensively.
The Bulldog defense has also been solid, ranking just outside the top-100 in fielding percentage (.972), but with a handful of starters still perfect in the field through 18 games.
Georgia’s pitching staff has shown to be perhaps the deepest unit on the roster, with 22 different guys making at least one appearance this season. The team ERA of 3.74 ranks just ninth in the SEC, but is good enough for No. 26 in all of the NCAA.
It has been a complete team effort on the mound, with a number of guys still vying to prove themselves as the team enters the meat of their schedule. While Charlie Goldstein and Leighton Finley have cemented themselves as weekend starters, the Bulldogs have given a number of guys the opportunity to slide in as the third starter.
Left-hander Jarvis Evans leads the team in innings pitched with 18 innings of work and has posted an ERA of 2.00, but guys such as Christian Mracna, Daniel Padysak and Kolten Smith have also gotten an opportunity to show what they can do on the weekend.
Since their lone loss in a midweek matchup against Michigan State, the Bulldogs have won their last eight contests. The team hopes to keep the streak alive as they travel to take on Kentucky in a three-game series to begin conference play over the weekend. First pitch for Friday’s matchup is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on SEC Network+.
