ATHENS, Ga. — Saturday is a big day for Georgia baseball.
The Bulldogs are hosting their first NCAA super regional since 2008.
Their opponent? The same one as over a decade ago: N.C. State.
The No. 10 Wolfpack will travel to a sold-out Foley Field in hopes to avoid repeating history. Georgia defeated them in 2008, but anything can happen this weekend.
N.C. State is led by graduates third baseman Alec Makarewicz and first baseman Garrett Pennington. The pairs .379 and .347 batting average alongside their 76 and 62 RBI’s lead the team. Makarewicz’s 20 home runs lead the team, while Pennington’s 16 is tied with junior catcher Jacob Cozart.
On the mound, Georgia will face pitchers Sam Highfill and Dominic Fritton. The pair have a combined record of 9-7 and have 15 starts each. Both lead the team in strikeouts with 73 and 67 respectively, but have allowed team highs in runs of 45 and 51, respectively.
Georgia will have game one starter Leighton Finley on the mound. He’s been a consistent starter all year and is third on the team with 71 strikeouts. Kolten Smith and Charlie Goldstein could start at some point in this series, but both are battling through injuries. Christian Mracna may also play a big role either as a starter or reliever.
On offense, the Bulldogs are led by Golden Spikes finalist and consensus All-American Charlie Condon. He leads college baseball in several categories, including home runs, hits and batting average. He also set the NCAA record for home runs this season.
Leadoff hitter and first baseman Corey Collins is second on the team in home runs and has the highest on base percentage in college baseball, two spots ahead of third place Condon. Other key players include designated hitter and freshman Tre Phelps, infielder Slate Alford, graduate Dylan Goldstein and catcher Fernando Gonzalez.
Georgia will face N.C. State on Saturday at 12 p.m. and Sunday at the same time. Both games will air on ESPNU. Full details are below:
Athens Super Regional Game 1
WHEN: Saturday, June 8.
WHO: No. 7 Georgia vs No. 10 N.C. State
WHAT TIME: 12 p.m.
WHERE TO WATCH: ESPNU
Athens Super Regional Game 2
WHEN: Saturday, June 9
WHO: No. 7 Georgia vs No. 10 N.C. State
WHAT TIME: 12 p.m.
WHERE TO WATCH: ESPNU
(IF NECESSARY) Athens Super Regional Game 3
WHEN: TBD
WHO: No. 7 Georgia vs No. 10 N.C. State
WHAT TIME: TBD
WHERE TO WATCH: TBD
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