Georgia headed to postseason as No. 2-seed in UNC Regional, set to face VCU on Friday
Georgia headed to postseason as No. 2-seed in UNC Regional, set to face VCU on Friday
Georgia (35-21) learned that its season will continue into the NCAA playoffs on Monday.
The Diamond Dogs are set to travel to Chapel Hill, NC., and will be the No. 2-seed in the UNC Regional.
Georgia will face No. 3-seed VCU (40-18) on Friday at 7 p.m. The Rams enter the postseason on a 15-game winning streak and recently won the Atlanta 10 conference tournament. No. 1-seed North Carolina (39-18) will face No. 4-seed Hofstra (30-21) on Friday at 2 pm.
The winner of the UNC Regional will face the winner of the Oklahoma State Regional.
Georgia had a rough outing to its 2022 season, losing its last four of five SEC series. Alabama also defeated the Diamond Dogs 5-3 last week in the opening round of the conference tournament.
The Diamond Dogs are hoping to advance to a Super Regional for the first time under head coach Scott Stricklin. He has now led the program to the postseason three times (2018, 2019, 2022).
"We're very excited to be still playing and getting ready to go out and practice now for real challenging regional," Stricklin said on Monday. “Hopefully, our best baseball is ahead of us.”
Georgia has dealt with its fair share of injuries on the pitching staff in 2022. Recently, pitcher Nolan Crisp suffered an injury during a start in the final regular-season series against Missouri.
So, it’s likely that ace Jonathan Cannon will get the start on the mound against VCU on Friday.
The Diamond Dogs will also likely pitch regular Sunday rotational starter Liam Sullivan, who dealt with an injury earlier this season. In addition, Luke Wagner is available.
Stricklin and UGA pitching coach Sean Kenny will also need Jaden Woods, Jack Gowen, David Rokose, Coleman Willis and Chandler Marsh to perform well out of the bullpen.
Offensively, Ben Anderson, Cole Tate and Connor Tate have been consistent at the plate. To advance, the Diamond Dogs will also need players like Chaney Rogers, Garrett Blaylock, Corey Collins, and Cory Acton to step up this weekend in the regional.