ATHENS ------The Georgia Bulldogs return to action Tuesday when Georgia Southern visits Foley Field. First pitch is set for 5:02 p.m. ET and be available on SEC Network+ and the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network.

Georgia (18-9) posted a 5-2 road win over Ga. Southern on March 9 and leads the all-time series 58-51-1. Freshman right-hander Hank Bearden (2-0, 1.86 ERA) will make his first career start for the Bulldogs after seven relief appearances. The Eagles (13-13) will counter with freshman right-hander Jaylen Paden (1-2, 5.54 ERA).  Georgia has used a staff approach in its midweek games this year. In the first meeting with the Eagles, Ben Anderson and Corey Collins had 3-hit games and four different Bulldogs drove in a run with Collins notching a pair of RBI. Georgia used five pitchers that night including the 2021 debut of sophomore Jonathan Cannon.

Georgia is batting .277 with a .349 OB%. The team ERA is 3.41 and fielding .979. The Eagles (13-13) are batting .301 with a .389 OB%. GSU’s team ERA is 4.24 and fielding .963. Both teams are coming off series losses as the Bulldogs fell 2-1 to No. 8 South Carolina while the Eagles dropped two of three to Georgia State in Atlanta.

Georgia redshirt junior OF Connor Tate (.369-5-17) ranks fifth in the SEC in batting and sixth in hits (38-for-103). He is riding a career-best seven-game hitting streak. Against #8 USC, he hit a pair of home runs while batting .444 in the series. Redshirt junior INF Josh McAllister (.362-5-13), who ranks eighth in the SEC in batting, is day-to-day after having to leave last Friday’s South Carolina game with a pulled hamstring. It is the second time this year that the injury has flared up. He ranks fourth in SEC action with a .400 batting average (12-for-30) and a .700 slugging percentage. Earlier this year, he had a 17-game on base streak. Fifth-year senior Mason McWhorter leads the Eagles, batting .394 with seven home runs and 22 RBI while junior Noah Ledford is hitting .305-9-22.

Georgia will observe National Student-Athlete Day on Tuesday. Bulldog graduate catcher Mason Meadows will throw out the first pitch.

Pitching Matchup: UGA vs. Clemson #35 Hank Bearden (2-0, 1.86, RHP, Fr.) vs. #42 Jaylen Paden (1-2, 5.54, RHP, Fr.)

Georgia Baseball Radio Links: Georgia Bulldog Sports Network (Announcers: Jeff Dantzler, David Johnston)

Tues. Pregame Show begins at 4:40 p.m. ET: https://georgiadogs.com/watch/?Live=3935&type=Live

All regular season Bulldog games will be available on the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network. Georgia home games along with SEC road games will be available on the SEC Network+ platform too. All Georgia baseball games will be carried locally on 960 the Ref-AM as it will serve as the primary home for all broadcasts. In Atlanta, Bulldogs fans can tune in to WFOM 1230 AM. Fans can listen to every game online for free through the official website of the Bulldogs, georgiadogs.com and the Georgia Bulldogs app. Also, games will be available on TuneIn. Live Stats are available via the Bulldogs app too.

SEC Network+ TV Links: (Announcers: Matt Stewart, Jason Jacobs)  Tues. at 5:02 p.m. ET: TBA

Tickets/Parking/General Information:  *Fans looking to purchase individual game tickets can search on StubHub.com. Link: https://resale.ticketmrktplace.com/ex/loginFrame.action?team=Georgia%20Baseball

*A limited number of student tickets will be available each game on a first come, first served basis.  *General parking is available around campus on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests are encouraged to park in the Carlton Street Parking Deck located off Smith Street.  *To comply with social distance guidelines, tailgating will not be permitted for the 2021 season.  *Capacity at Foley Field will be reduced to approximately 600 because of the pandemic.  *Masks/face coverings will be required for entry and must be worn when moving around the facility. In compliance with CDC, state and local public health guidance, seating in Foley Field will be socially distanced and be in groups of two and four.  *Gates will open one hour before first pitch and please note all transactions will be contactless and cashless.

For the latest Georgia baseball news, visit www.georgiadogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on Twitter (@BaseballUGA), Facebook (@GeorgiaBaseball) and Instagram (@baseballuga).

Cox Media Group