UGA softball begins NCAA tournament play in Athens

No. 14 Georgia will open the 2023 NCAA Softball Tournament at Jack Turner Stadium Friday, facing off against North Carolina Central at 4:30 p.m.

The Athens Regional features the 14th-seeded Bulldogs, Virginia Tech, Boston University, and NC Central in the double elimination tournament. Virginia Tech and Boston U kick off the Athens Regional Friday at 2 p.m.

Follow the Bulldogs

» Every game of the NCAA Tournament Regional and Super Regional rounds will stream live on ESPN+ (subscription required). Chuckie Kempf (play-by-play) and Brittany McKinney (analysis) will be on the call live from Athens.

» Some games may be chosen by linear television. Network designation will be announced when it comes available.

» Live stat links can be found on the interactive NCAA Tournament bracket on NCAA.com.

» Live Twitter updates will be available on the official Twitter page of Georgia softball, @UGAsoftball.

BULLDOGS BULLETIN

NCAA Tournament Tidbits

» 2023 will be Georgia’s 21st-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance

» Georgia’s all-time record in postseason is 77-43 including 58-21 in regional play

» As a team, Georgia has advanced to 11 Super Regionals and five Women’s College World Series, most recently 2021

» Athens and Jack Turner Stadium will host its 12th NCAA Regional in 2023 (2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021)

» The Bulldogs are 43-11 all-time in NCAA Tournament games in Athens

» When Athens has hosted the Regional round, Georgia has advanced to the Supers nine of 11 times (2004, 2006 being the only times Georgia did not advance out of Athens)

» Georgia has never matched up with Virginia Tech, Boston University, or NC Central in the NCAA Tournament

» The Bulldogs have only been the 14 seed once (2015); Georgia fell on Saturday of the Regional and worked through the elimination bracket to win the Regional, but lost in Supers at No. 3 Michigan

Series Histories

Virginia Tech

» Georgia leads the all-time series 5-2

» The Bulldogs are 4-1 against the Hokies in Athens

» Georgia and Virginia Tech last met in Athens in 2019; splitting a pair of games

» Prior to 2019, the teams has not faced off since 2010

Boston University

» The all-time series is tied 1-1

» Both meetings were in Athens in 2022; BU won the first game 6-1 then Georgia won the next day, 8-1

NC Central

» First-ever meeting

Recapping Action

Georgia softball fell to South Carolina in an extra-inning affair, 2-1, in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals Thursday at Bogle Park. Madison Kerpics pitched five innings in her start, suffering a no decision. Kerpics allowed one run on two hits, striking out six and walking only one batter. Shelby Walters suffered the loss in relief, allowing one run on three hits in three innings out of the pen. Walters struck out three batters. Sara Mosley was responsible for two of Georgia’s five hits including a double. Sydney Chambley’s third inning home run was the Bulldogs’ lone run.

Georgia’s Regular Season At A Glance

- 39-12 overall record // 16-7 SEC record (2nd place)

- Picked to finish sixth in preseason SEC poll

- Most SEC wins (16) since 2018 (16-8)

- 11 top-25 RPI wins // 20-11 vs. 1-50 RPI teams

- 26 home victories // 13-6 away from Athens

- Top 10 nationally in three offensive averages

- Leads SEC in five offensive categories

- Improved ERA from 4.05 in 2022 to 2.29 (-1.76)

- SEC ERA improved from 5.69 to 2.82 (-2.87)

Georgia in the Polls

Georgia’s rankings after Week 14:

- NCAA Tournament seed: 14

- USA Today/NFCA: 14

- ESPN/USA Softball: 12

- D1Softball: 7

- Softball America: 9

- RPI: 17

Six Bulldogs Earn All-SEC Honors

A total of six Georgia Bulldogs were named to the 2023 All-SEC Softball Teams. Outfielder Jayda Kearney, second baseman Sydney Kuma, third baseman Sara Mosley, and pitcher Shelby Walters all earned First Team accolades. First baseman Jaiden Fields and pitcher Madison Kerpics appear on the Second Team. Additionally, Kuma was recognized on the SEC All-Defensive Team. Georgia’s six All-SEC picks is the most by the Bulldogs since 2016 when seven were honored. Additionally, this is the first time Georgia has placed two pitchers on the All-Conference squads in program history.

SEC Well Represented in NCAA Tournament

Twelve teams from the Southeastern Conference were selected to compete in the 2023 NCAA Division I Softball Championship. The SEC earned five national seeds, including two of the top six. Tennessee garnered the No. 4 seed. Alabama was awarded the No. 5 seed, while LSU was tabbed the No. 10 seed. Arkansas received the No. 11 seed, and Georgia earned the No. 14 seed.

Walters Named SEC Community Service Team

Graduate pitcher Shelby Walters was named to the 2023 SEC Softball Community Service Team. Walters, a native of Cohutta, Georgia, is a graduate student currently pursuing a Masters in Kinesiology - Exercise Physiology. In the community, Walters is active in Save a Lab, the Miracle League, Special Olympics at UGA, among others.

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