Baldwin Era Begins This Week in Orlando

#12/19 Georgia (0-0)
at The CFX Classic
Dates: Feb. 10-13, 2022
Location: Orlando, Fla.
Stadium: UCF Softball Complex
Georgia's Schedule:
Thursday, Feb. 10
   at (RV) UCF, 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 11
   vs. Longwood, 1:30 p.m.
   vs. (RV) Minnesota, 4 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 12
   vs. (RV) Fresno State, 9 a.m.
   vs. (RV) Minnesota, 11:30 a.m.
Sunday, Feb. 13
   vs. Longwood, 12 p.m.

Media Information
Streaming: ESPN+ (vs. UCF)
Live Stats: GeorgiaDogs.com
Twitter Updates: @UGAsoftball

The preseason 12th-ranked Georgia softball team will open the 2022 season Thursday evening when the Bulldogs takes on UCF in Orlando, Florida to open The CFX Classic.

Georgia is set to take on Longwood, Minnesota, and Fresno State in six total games on opening weekend at the UCF Softball Complex. UCF, Minnesota, and Fresno State begin the season all receiving votes in the NFCA Preseason Poll.

Follow the Bulldogs
» Georgia's season opener against UCF will stream live on ESPN+.
» Live stat links can be found on the softball schedule at GeorgiaDogs.com.
» Live Twitter updates will be available at the official Twitter page of Georgia softball, @UGAsoftball.

BULLDOGS BULLETIN
Series Histories
UCF
» Georgia leads the all-time series 2-0.
» The Bulldogs won the first meeting on opening weekend in 2010 in Clermont, Florida in five innings.
» The second meeting was on UCF's home field in 2017. Georgia narrowly won the game 6-5.
Longwood
» Georgia leads the all-time series 4-3.
» This will be the first time Georgia and Longwood have met outside Jack Turner Stadium.
» The Bulldogs and Lancers split a pair of games last season.
Fresno State
» Georgia trails the all-time series 0-2.
» Then-No. 8 Fresno State won the first meeting in 2001 in Columbus, Georgia.
» The last meeting was in the NCAA Fresno Regional in 2003. Georgia fell in extra innings to end the season.
Minnesota
» Series tied 4-4.
» Minnesota won two most recent meetings in the 2019 Minneapolis Regional.
» Georgia has dropped three-straight to the Gophers back to 2016.

A Look at What's Ahead
Georgia will host the 15th Annual Red & Black Showcase Presented by T-Mobile at Jack Turner Stadium Feb. 18-20 to open the 2022 home schedule. The Bulldogs will play host to Delaware, Boston University, and Purdue in the 10-game tournament.

The Baldwin Era Begins
Tony Baldwin was announced the next head coach of the Georgia softball program on June 21, 2021. Baldwin is the third head coach in the 26-year history of Georgia softball. This is Baldwin's first head coaching job. He served on the Georgia coaching staff under Lu Harris-Champer for nine seasons. During Baldwin's tenure on staff, Georgia has appeared in eight NCAA Tournaments (no tournament in 2020). The Bulldogs have advanced to six Super Regionals and three appearances in the Women's College World Series (2016, 2018, 2021). The Bulldogs are one of eight teams to make three or more appearances in Oklahoma City in the last five World Series.

Coaching Connection
Georgia head coach Tony Baldwin and UCF head coach Cindy Ball-Malone were assistant coaches together on the 2019 USA Softball U-19 Team together. The U-19 WNT brought home the bronze medal at the USA Softball International Cup. USA concluded its summer by walking off Japan to win the 2019 WBSC U-19 Women's Softball World Cup. Additionally, Georgia assistant coach J.T. D'Amico coached with Ball-Malone at Washington for two seasons (2011-12). UCF assistants Whitney Jones and Kaija Gibson each played for D'Amico in his time at Washington as well. Jones was on staff with D'Amico as the volunteer coach from 2018-2021.

Fincher Tabbed Preseason All-SEC
The head softball coaches of the SEC tabbed Georgia senior first baseman Lacey Fincher Preseason All-SEC. Fincher was Georgia's top hitter in 2021, registering a .345 average, knocking 15 home runs and driving in 37 runs. She boasted a .734 slugging percentage with a .511 on base clip including 42 walks on the season. Fincher earned 2021 NFCA All-Southeast Region honors as a junior.

Offense Returns Big Bats in 2022
As Georgia returns all nine members of last season's starting lineup, the offense brings back a large chunk of its production:
   - 80 of 83 home runs
   - 95% of the run production
   - 149 extra base hits

Georgia in the Polls
Georgia will begin the 2022 season ranked No. 12 in the USA Today/NFCA Preseason Top 25 Poll. Additionally, Georgia is ranked No. 19 in the preseason USA Softball/ESPN and D1 Softball polls as well as No. 18 in the Softball America Top 25.

Bulldogs Appear in D1Softball Preseason Power Rankings
D1Softball has tabbed first baseman Lacey Fincher (No. 3) and second baseman Sydney Kuma (No. 8) in its Preseason Power Rankings, ranking the top 10 players at each position in college softball.

Pair of Rookies Earn National Praise
A pair of Bulldog rookies have garnered national attention going into their freshman campaigns. Kylie Macy was named a Top 75 Impact Freshman by D1Softball while Lyndi Rae Davis was one of five freshmen identified as a Top SEC Newcomer to Watch in 2022 by Softball America.

Fincher Ranked in Pair of Top 100 College Player Rankings
Senior first baseman Lacey Fincher earned top 100 college player rankings from Extra Inning Softball (68) and Softball America (63).

A Look at Baldwin's Coaching Staff
Tony Baldwin completed his coaching staff on July 12, 2021 with the announcement of an NCAA national champion in J.T. D'Amico and a pair of Georgia greats in Chelsea Wilkinson and Alyssa DiCarlo. D'Amico will head up Georgia's defensive efforts and will serve as its recruiting coordinator. Wilkinson will coach the pitching staff and DiCarlo will serve as the volunteer coach, assisting with offense.

2022 Schedule Breakdown
Georgia is scheduled to play a total of 37 games at Jack Turner Stadium this season. The full schedule features 12 teams that appeared in the 2021 NCAA Tournament and five teams that finished in the top 25 (Alabama, Missouri, LSU, Clemson, Tennessee).

Wendland Inducted into UGA Circle of Honor
Georgia great Kim Wendland will be inducted formally during the Circle of Honor Gala on Friday, February 11, 2022 in the West End Zone complex of Sanford Stadium. A native of Rock Island, Illinois, Wendland was one of the first great players in UGA softball history. A three-year teammate of fellow Circle of Honor inductee Nicole Barber, the duo helped turn Georgia from an ascendant program to the national fixture it is today. Wendland won All-America honors in each of her last three years as a Bulldog (2003-05). She remains one of just four players in UGA history to earn such an honor three times. She's also the only player in program history to earn two outstanding honors: SEC Player of the Year and first-team All-SEC four consecutive years.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lyndi Rae Davis

Lacey Fincher

Sydney Kuma

Kylie Macy