Diamond Dogs open homestand

Ninth-ranked Georgia returns to action Tuesday at Foley Field when it plays host to Alabama State starting at 5:02 p.m. (SECN+).

Georgia (9-2) will start junior right-hander Tim Elliott (0-1, 0.00 ERA) while the Hornets (7-4) counter with freshman right-hander AJ Stinson (0-1, 81.00 ERA). A 6-1, 200-pound native of Loganville, Ga., Elliott had tough luck in his last start, a 1-0 loss to LIU Brooklyn when the Bulldogs were held to a pair of hits. He went six innings against the Blackbirds and allowed one unearned run on three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. Stinson will be making his first career start and third appearance on the year. This is the first meeting between the two programs.

The Bulldogs are batting .289 with a 2.81 ERA and a .978 fielding percentage. Last weekend, Georgia won its first road series of the year, going 2-1 versus Georgia Southern. ASU is batting .315 with a 6.06 ERA and a .940 fielding percentage. Georgia averages 7.6 runs a game while the Hornets are averaging 10.2 runs a game.

On Wednesday, Georgia welcomes Jacksonville State (5-7) to Foley Field.

Please note the start time has been moved up to 3 p.m. for Wednesday’s game. 

Sophomore left-hander C.J. Smith (1-0, 0.00 ERA) is slated to start while the Gamecocks have not announced a starting pitcher. Smith is a two-way player for the Bulldogs with seven starts in the outfield too. On the mound, he will be making his third appearance including second start. Last week, he beat Kennesaw State, pitching six shutout innings with three walks and six strikeouts. JSU will play host to Samford on Tuesday. The Bulldogs are 2-3 all-time against JSU. On May 8, Georgia will travel to JSU for a single game before the Auburn series. JSU is batting .246 with a 4.85 ERA and a .971 fielding percentage.

The two midweek games will be available on the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network and streamed on SEC Network+. In the national polls, Georgia remained No. 9 in the D1Baseball.com top 25 and No. 15 by Baseball America. Also, the Bulldogs are ranked No. 15 by Collegiate Baseball and in the USA Today/Coaches Top 25.

Bulldog Lineup Notes:

*Senior preseason All-SEC 2B LJ Talley (.447-3-11) is enjoying his finest campaign, leading the Bulldogs in just about every offensive category including a .763 slugging percentage and .a 532 on base percentage while posting a perfect fielding percentage in 40 total chances. Last week, he batted .368 (7-for-19) with a home run and four RBI. Currently, Talley ranks sixth in the SEC in batting, total bases and slugging percentage. Talley and redshirt junior 1B Patrick Sullivan (.231-1-10) have hit safely in the past four games.

*Redshirt sophomore RF Riley King (.395-2-15) leads the team with 15 RBI and ranks second in batting at .395. He redshirted in 2017 and was limited to six at bats last season due to injuries. King has had the longest hitting streak on the team this season at six games.

*Junior SS Cam Shepherd (.366-1-9) has a team-high 15 runs scored (3rd in the SEC) and 12 walks (4th in the SEC). He has reached base in all 11 games this season.

*Junior 3B/Closer Aaron Schunk (.357-2-9; 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 SV) registered saves in the first two games of the series at Georgia Southern. He had a quiet series at the plate but did notch three RBI.

Television/Radio

TV: SEC Network+: (Matt Stewart & Jason Jacobs)

Tuesday Streaming Link: 1st pitch at 5:02 p.m.: http://www.gado.gs/1o5

Wednesday Streaming Link: 1st pitch at 3:02 p.m.: http://www.gado.gs/1o7

Radio: Georgia Bulldog Sports Network from IMG College (David Johnston & Jeff Dantzler)

Stations: 960 AM-WRFC and selected affiliates (check your local listings), also via the Georgia Bulldogs app and TuneIn app.

Additional Coverage on Twitter: @BaseballUGA