Georgia at Liberty
LYNCHBURG, Va. (Interstat) — The Georgia Bulldogs take their high-powered offense to Liberty Stadium on Saturday as they face the Flames in a marquee non-conference matchup between two of the nation’s top teams.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
Georgia (47-12) enters riding a five-game winning streak, including an 18-2 rout of Long Island on Friday in which shortstop Ryan Wynn went 4 for 5 with two home runs and four RBIs. The Bulldogs have won 10 of their last 11 games and boast a lineup that has scored at least eight runs in seven of those contests.
Wynn, a junior infielder, has been a catalyst despite occasional cold stretches. Over his last three games, he is 4 for 12 with two homers and five RBIs. For the season, he leads the team in slugging percentage and has been a steady presence at the top of the order.
Liberty (42-19) counters with its own star: right-hander Ben Blair. The senior pitcher tossed seven innings of two-hit ball, striking out seven and allowing two earned runs in Friday’s 4-3 win at Boston College. Blair has been dominant in two of his last three starts, posting a 2.84 ERA over that span, though he was roughed up for five runs in four innings in a loss at Middle Tennessee on May 14.
The Flames have won four of their last five and are 9-4 in May. Their offense has been inconsistent but received a lift Friday from shortstop Tanner Marsh, who went 3 for 5.
Georgia is the pregame favorite by 3.5 runs, according to oddsmakers. The Bulldogs’ pitching staff has been stout, led by Joey Volchko, who threw six no-hit innings with 10 strikeouts against Long Island. Georgia’s lineup also got two home runs from Brennan Hudson in that game.
Liberty will need to contain Wynn and a Bulldogs lineup that averages more than nine runs per game. The Flames’ bullpen, which allowed just one run over the final four innings Friday, could be tested.
But Georgia’s recent history shows vulnerability: a 14-4 loss at Auburn on May 16 and a lack of run support in some tight wins. The Bulldogs are 6-2 in one-run games.
Liberty, meanwhile, has been dominant at home, where it is 23-7. The Flames’ pitching staff has a 4.12 ERA but has held opponents to three runs or less in five of their last seven games.
Saturday’s game is the first meeting between the two programs. Georgia is aiming for its 11th straight win in non-conference play.