Georgia Bulldogs
Overall Rank: #9
Conference Rank: #4 SEC
Georgia Team Page
The 2014 season came to a tough end at home for the Georgia Bulldogs as they ran into a buzzsaw in the Baylor Bears during the Athens Super Regional. The Bulldogs return most of their starting lineup intact and they will be a team on a mission to get back to Oklahoma City in 2015 and atone for the tough finish on their home field last season.
2014: 49-15, 15-9
2014 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Lu Harris-Champer
Field Players:
Georgia can score runs with the best teams in college softball on a consistent basis. The Bulldogs are going to have a deep lineup led by catcher/infielder Alex Hugo, who was one of the most dominant power hitters in the nation a year ago after hitting 25 homeruns. Infielder Paige Wilson will provide critical senior leadership along with a dominant presence at the plate after hitting .387 last season with 11 homeruns and 50 runs batted in. Designated player Tina Isoefa is back as well and will look to build upon her .344 batting average and her knack for driving in runs. Outfielder Anna Swafford will bring the dynamic element of speed once again to the table for the Bulldogs as she stole 20 bases in 24 attempts while hitting. 327 last season.
Pitchers:
Chelsea Wilkinson returns to anchor the Georgia pitching staff in the circle. Wilkinson was 33-10 last season with a 2.10 earned run average, which is very good in an offensively dominated conference like the SEC. Wilkinson did a nice job overall last season in regard to limiting walks and scoring chances for opposing hitters, as she only walked 98 in 257.1 innings pitched and she limited opposing batters to a .188 batting average. Wilkinson is the type of workhorse pitcher in the circle that you need if you are going to make a run to Oklahoma City and win a national championship.
Who to Watch:
Bekah Farris will be one to watch this season for the Bulldogs as they will need someone to pick up the slack for Geri Ann Glasco as the number two pitcher in the circle. Farris, in limited action, was 0-0 with a 2.33 earned run average in eight appearances last season and she worked exclusively out of the bullpen. In the 12 innings that Farris pitched, she walked just three batters but did allow 14 hits.
Final Projection:
Georgia should be able to get through the first couple weeks of the season at home without too much trouble as they host teams that should not pose too much of a threat to them, with the possible exception of Illinois. A trip to the Mary Nutter Collegiate Challenge in Cathedral City, California will be the first significant test of the season for the Bulldogs. They will play NCAA Tournament caliber teams Texas, Oklahoma and Notre Dame that will prepare Georgia for the SEC schedule. North Carolina, Georgia Tech and USC Upstate will be midweek non-conference games that will be scattered throughout the schedule that will test the Bulldogs pitching depth. It would be ideal if someone like Bekah Farris could take some of those midweek starts and eat up innings so Wilkinson can rest her arm for conference weekend series. The conference schedule is pretty favorable for Georgia as they get Alabama and Florida in Athens. The toughest road series will be at the end of the conference schedule when the Bulldogs have to go to Lexington to play Kentucky in what could be a very critical series for both teams. Overall, there is too much talent and experience back for Georgia for them not to be knocking on a door at least of a top eight seed and a run to Oklahoma City.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Softball Tournament
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Paige Wilson, IF, 217
Hits: Paige Wilson, IF, 84
Home Runs: Alex Hugo, IF/C, 25
RBIs: Alex Hugo, IF/C, 64
Runs: Alex Hugo, IF/C, 57
Stolen Bases: Anna Swafford, OF, 20
Wins: Chelsea Wilkinson, P, 33
Innings Pitched: Chelsea Wilkinson, P, 257
Strikeouts: Chelsea Wilkinson, P, 299
Complete Games: Chelsea Wilkinson, P, 27
Madness 2015 Softball Recruit Rankings:
#16 Savannah McHellon
#20 Brittany Gray
See All Softball Top 44 Previews
