SEC Play Next For Diamond Dawgs

With SEC play starting this weekend, Georgia head baseball coach Scott Stricklin sees little reason to mess with a good thing.

In doing so, the Diamond Dawgs will trot out the same pitching rotation that helped on the way to a sweep of Toledo last weekend.

The challenge will obviously be tougher for Georgia (12-5) this time, opening conference play on the road against the Crimson Tide (15-3). Both teams have a wave of confidence in their corner. Alabama has won four in a row, with Georgia having taken the win in its past five- most recently Tuesday’s 15-3 win against Kennesaw State in which Cam Shepherd and Michael Curry both belted a grand slam.

As was the case last weekend, Chase Adkins gets the ball on Friday night as the starting pitcher for Georgia with Emerson Hancock being called on for Saturday and Ryan Webb on Sunday. All three will look to carry confidence from last weekend over. Adkins (3-1, 2.11 ERA) allowed a season-best one hit last weekend. For Hancock (2-2, 4.09) the one run allowed was his second lowest total of the season. Webb shined in his longest appearance of the season in what was his first start, giving up a run and three hits through five and two thirds.

Having performances similar to that will make it easy for Georgia to get into position for a series win in Tuscaloosa.

Stat-wise, both teams are similar. Alabama is hitting .310 as a team to Georgia’s 2.98. The Crimson Tide’s team ERA os 2.73 is a bit lower than the Bulldogs current total of 3.70.

How good is either team? That’ll be known following the weekend as the intensity of SEC play kicks in.

This weekend’s schedule

Friday: 7:02 p.m.

Saturday: 2:02 p.m.

Sunday: 3;03 p.m.

TV: SEC Network