The No. 10-ranked Georgia baseball team will host No. 14 Oklahoma for a three-game series at Foley Field starting at 7 p.m. ET Thursday. The matchup marks the first meeting between the two teams since 2004, with Georgia holding a 12-0 all-time record against the Sooners.
Georgia (33-10, 10-8 SEC) enters the series on a four-game losing streak following a 3-0 road loss to No. 2 Clemson on Tuesday. Clemson limited the Bulldogs to three hits in the game.
One of the key defensive moments came in the sixth inning when left fielder Daniel Jackson threw out a runner at home to keep the deficit at two.
Despite the recent slide, Georgia has put together a strong season offensively.
Senior infielder Slate Alford has reached base in 26 consecutive games, while roommates Ryland Zaborowski and Robbie Burnett continue to lead the lineup.
Zaborowski is batting .385 with 16 home runs and 55 RBIs, while Burnett is hitting .331 with 12 stolen bases.
The Bulldogs’ pitching staff has compiled a 4.94 team ERA. Among the primary starters, Kolten Smith holds a 5.47 ERA, Leighton Finley sits at 5.63, and Charlie Goldstein has a 6.75 ERA.
Limiting Oklahoma’s offense will be key as Georgia aims to bounce back and improve its postseason outlook.
Oklahoma (29-11, 10-8 SEC) arrives in Athens after dropping its most recent game 5-3 to Oral Roberts.
Before that, the Sooners swept Missouri in a three-game SEC series, outscoring the Tigers 46-13. The Sooners began the season 11-0 and are 4-2 in SEC series this year.
At the plate, Oklahoma is led by Jaxon Willits (.333), Trey Gambill (.336), and Easton Carmichael (.325). The team has hit 50 home runs and outscored opponents 296-174. Freshman Drew Dickerson, the SEC Co-Freshman of the Week, is batting .296 with 28 RBIs.
On the mound, the Sooners hold a 4.26 ERA, led by junior Kyson Witherspoon, who has a 2.48 ERA and has earned multiple midseason national accolades. Witherspoon’s performance will be a key factor in the series.
A notable storyline is the matchup between brothers Kolby and Kyle Branch.
Kolby, now at Georgia, is batting .304 with eight home runs and 24 RBIs. Kyle, a starter for the Sooners, is hitting .302 with 22 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.
Both have played key roles for their respective teams this season.
The three-game series continues through Saturday in Athens.
