ATHENS — The No. 14 Georgia Bulldogs open the 2022 season Friday at Foley Field against the University at Albany Great Danes with first pitch set for 2:02 p.m.
The entire three-game series will be available on the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network and streamed on SEC Network+.
Georgia welcomes back 29 returning lettermen including eight starting position players and 13 pitchers who logged innings a year ago. Junior RHP Jonathan Cannon and sophomore LHP Jaden Woods were named to the preseason All-SEC 2nd Team in a vote of the league’s coaches. Also, Georgia was picked to finish third in the Eastern Division behind Vanderbilt and Florida. Arkansas was picked to win the West while Ole Miss was the favorite to win the league title.
Cannon, who will start Opening Day, made a couple of preseason All-America teams too. Four Bulldog starters have already earned their degree including the leading returning hitter in outfielder Connor Tate (.344-10-33). Georgia is 5-3 on Opening Day in the Scott Stricklin era. He is in his ninth season as the Ike Cousins head baseball coach.
The Great Danes were picked to finish fourth in the America East Coaches’ Poll with Stony Brook the favorite. Albany posted a 22-25 mark last year. The Great Danes return redshirt senior infielder Johnny Marti who led the team in batting (.349), home runs (7) and RBI (41), and their top three starting pitchers in redshirt senior Ray Weber (7-2, 3.69) and redshirt sophomores Anthony Germinerio (3-5, 3.97) and Cregg Scherrer (4-4, 4.92).
Pitching Matchups: UGA vs. Albany
Game 1 Friday at 2 pm: Jonathan Cannon (4-2, 3.98 ERA, RHP, Jr.) vs. Ray Weber (7-2, 3.69, RHP, RSr.) Honorary First Pitch: Bulldog national championship QB Stetson Bennett
Game 2 Saturday at 3 pm: Liam Sullivan (1-2, 3.99, LHP, So.) vs. Anthony Germinerio (3-5, 3.97 ERA, RHP, RSo.) Honorary First Pitch: Former Bulldog LHP Ben Harris who is now in the L.A. Dodgers organization.
Game 3 Sunday at 1 pm: Dylan Ross (6-2, 3.88 ERA, RHP, Jr.) vs. Cregg Scherrer (4-4, 4.92 ERA, LHP, RSo.)
