Georgia baseball sweeps Richmond to open 2020 season. Here are 5 things we learned

So far, so good for the Georgia baseball team.

The Bulldogs opened the season this weekend with a sweep of the Richmond Spiders at Foley Field, winning 7-6, 9-3 and 5-4. In the first and third games of the series, the Bulldogs overcame deficits of four and three runs, respectively.

“We’ve got some fight,” head coach Scott Stricklin said after Sunday’s game. “We trailed a lot of innings this weekend to a good team, a team that’s going to compete for their championship. I wouldn’t be shocked if they’re in a regional.”

That’s what the Bulldogs head coach learned about his squad, but what else can be taken from this opening series? Here’s a look at five observations after one weekend of play:

Top of the order carries the offense

As with any offense, the top of the order is the spark that ignites the fire for the Bulldogs.

The trio of sophomore Ben Anderson, senior Cam Shepherd and junior Tucker Bradley proved just that against Richmond, reaching base a combined 28 times in three games. Of the 21 runs Georgia scored over the weekend, the top of the order accounted for 13.

They all have their own individual strengths. Anderson is the speedy center fielder who can hit the ball to all fields and fly around the bases. Shepherd brings over 700 at-bats and 180 starts worth of experience.

Bradley is perhaps the most versatile hitter of the three. On Friday night, he dropped a bunt in an attempt to bring a run home on a safety squeeze. The next day, he launched a mammoth home run off the scoreboard in right field.

“He’s going to drive some teams crazy because they’re going to come up and try to take it away, and he’s going to hit it past them. Then they play back and he can lay the bunt down,” Stricklin said. “He’s got free reign to play. He’s a fourth-year player, he’s very experienced and a really high baseball IQ kid.”

Bradley in particular had a sizzling weekend at the plate, batting 6-for-10 with 5 RBIs and three runs scored. He also drew three walks, getting on base without the benefit of hits.

Bradley and Shepherd will continue to receive plenty of RBI opportunities if Anderson keeps getting on base at his current rate. He sports a .600 on-base percentage after three contests, including reaching all five times at bat in game two.

Starting rotation still knocking off the rust

The talk all offseason was about the vaunted Georgia pitching staff, headlined by projected first-round MLB draft picks Emerson Hancock and Cole Wilcox. But after one turn through the rotation, it’s clear that some rust needs to be knocked off before the group rounds into form.

Hancock had nowhere near his A-game Friday night, allowing six runs on nine hits in just four innings of work. The Bulldogs rallied to win only after overcoming a 6-2 deficit after four innings.

“Emerson, he was so excited and so pumped up,” Stricklin said. “He just never really settled in. He’s the last guy on the planet I’m worried about. He’s going to be just fine.”

Ordinary starts bookended the series, as Smith gave up three runs in four innings on Sunday afternoon. He allowed just three hits, but three walks hurt his cause. Stricklin noted that was the first time he’s pitched since last season after not throwing in the summer or fall.

Wilcox served as the rotation’s bright spot against Richmond. He fired five innings of one-run ball Saturday, striking out a career-high eight batters in the process.

“I think last year, he maybe did a little bit more max-efforting with some of his fastballs, but he was loose and easy and relaxed,” Stricklin said. “There’s no questioning the stuff, 94-to-96 and just sat there with that velo and there’s more in the tank. When it warms up a little bit, you’re going to see upper 90s and some triple digits out of him.”

This weekend trio is still by far one of the most talented in America. As the season progresses and they round into form, the rotation will give the Bulldogs a fighting chance in most games they play.

Bulldogs aggressive on the bases

Up 5-0 in game two, Stricklin ordered a double steal. It succeeded, and Anderson ended up scoring on a passed ball in the same at-bat. The Bulldogs executed the same maneuver successfully Sunday trailing 4-2, and it led to Shepherd dashing home on a wild pitch to make the score 4-3.

For a team that lost 33 home runs from last year’s squad, aggressiveness on the base paths will be paramount. The Bulldogs will have to do whatever it takes to scratch runs across, particularly once conference play rolls around.

So far, the aggressiveness has paid off. Georgia is 10-for-10 in steals over three games, including going a perfect 7-for-7 over the first two contests.

“I think we’ve got more guys that can run. We’re going to try to put some more pressure on defenses,” Stricklin said. “Offensively, we might not be the most powerful lineup, but I think that we can produce some runs by putting some pressure on some people.”

Bullpen flashes potential

While the starting rotation had its struggles, the Bulldog bullpen was nothing short of dominant.

Over 14 innings pitched, the relievers gave up just two earned runs on eight hits while striking out 19 and walking five. This performance allowed Georgia to rally for wins in the opening and closing games of the series.

“I think that was a big question mark coming in to see what we had in the bullpen, losing Zac (Kristofak) and (Aaron) Schunk,” said Bradley, who also earned his first career save in a pitching appearance in Sunday’s game. “I think we stepped up to the occasion.”

The best showing came in game one. When Hancock exited after four innings, junior Ryan Webb pitched five sterling frames, striking out 11 and giving up just three hits and no runs.

The final two games each featured strong performances from freshmen. Jonathan Cannon went first with two shutout innings Saturday.

“I think he’s a future superstar,” Stricklin said. “First pitch he threw is 95 and it looked like he threw it 80. It’s just nice and easy and comfortable, throws a ton of strikes and is really athletic and competitive.”

Will Childers followed with 2.2 scoreless innings Sunday in a tight contest. Just three games in, the bullpen looks to have the potential of being a strength for this team.

Defense still stellar

Strong glove work carried the Bulldogs through the entirety of last season. They finished the year in a tie for ninth in the country with a .980 fielding percentage, a mark that also set a school record.

At least so far, that appears to have carried over into 2020. In three games against Richmond, Georgia committed just one error. As the season goes on, Stricklin knows that will be vital to his team’s success.

“We’re excited about our defense, and I think that’s the thing that’s going to win us a lot of close games,” Stricklin said. “Certainly once we get into the league, there’s a lot of 3-2, 4-3 games. The teams that make the routine plays are the teams that win. I feel like our team’s going to make all the routine plays.”

Next Georgia baseball games

▪ Georgia at Kennesaw State, 6 pm Wednesday

▪ Georgia vs. Santa Clara, 5 pm Friday (at Foley Field)

▪ Georgia vs. Santa Clara (DH), 1 pm Saturday (at Foley Field)

▪ Georgia vs. Santa Clara (DH), 5 pm Saturday (at Foley Field)

▪ Georgia vs. Santa Clara, 1 pm Sunday (at Foley Field)

This story was originally published February 16, 2020 at 8:08 PM.