University of Georgia Athletics

Wednesday, March 25
Athens, Ga.
6:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

vs

Mercer

26SB Game Notes - Mercer

No. 11 Bulldogs to Host Mercer Bears on Wednesday Night

March 24, 2026 | Softball

ATHENS, Ga. – No. 11 Georgia will host Mercer on Wednesday night at the Jack Turner Stadium. The Bulldogs enters the midweek non-conference clash at 23-8 (3-3) while the Bears hold a 13-15 (1-2) record.
 
No. 11/15 Georgia
vs. Mercer

Location: Athens, Ga.
Venue: Jack Turner Stadium
Date: Mar. 25, 2026
First Pitch: 6:00 p.m. ET
General Admission Gates: 5:00 p.m. ET
Promotion: Wayback Wednesday – 400 Fuzzy Buckets Hats 
 
Media Information
Streaming: SEC Network+
                  PxP: Kaleb Frady; Analyst: Mary Wilson Ross
Live Updates: GeorgiaDogs.com 
X Updates: @UGASoftball
 
Leading Off
Georgia enters the midweek non-conference contest against Mercer after taking the home series over Mississippi State this past weekend - the first series win since April 2024 against Missouri.
 
The Bulldogs will be off to face Kentucky this weekend in Lexington.
 
Series History
Mercer
- This will be the 24th meeting between the two schools
- Georgia owns a 21-2 all-time record against the Bears
- The last time these two schools met, Mercer took the contest 5-2
- The Bulldogs last beat Mercer in 2024, 8-1
 
Georgia in the Polls
Georgia in the Polls: Week Seven
     - NFCA/GoRout: 15
     - ESPN/USA Softball: 11
     - D1Softball: 12
     - Softball America: 11
 
Opponent Outlook
Mercer enters the midweek clash at 13-15 overall with a 1-2 nod in conference. The Bears opened the conference slate hosting Samford at Sikes Field. After taking game one 6-4, the Samford Bulldogs rebounded with successive road victories to take the series.
 
Katherine Rearley leads Mercer with 15 appearances this season in the circle including four starts. Two-way Grace Jones owns a team-best 5.58 ERA in 10 appearances with six starts having pitched 37.2 innings with 41 hits, 30 earned runs, 27 walks and 38 strikeouts to sit at 3-2. Grace Roark, 2-5 this campaign, has a 6.43 ERA through 37.0 innings pitched with 63 hits, 34 earned runs, 17 walks and 17 strikeouts.
 
In the batters box, Olivia Lenzen paces the Bears' offense with a .371 average - 10th best in her conference - to go with 23 hits, 10 runs, 10 RBIs, five doubles and three home runs. Avery Barton leads the team 23 RBIs and 10 home runs this season while Grace Jones, in addition to her accolades in the circle, boasts a team high seven doubles. Daniella Monaco has spread two triples this season pitting her tied-third in the SOCON leaderboards.
 
Head coach Chris Kuhlmeyer is in his first season at the helm with Mercer and his 15th overall as a head coach. His previous stops include UMBC and Belmont. With the Retrievers, he helped guide the program to over 160 wins and four NCAA tournament appearances. With the Bruins, he mentored five all-conference players and two all-region honorees.
 
 
 
Conference Stat Leaders (as of Tues, Mar. 24)
Tyler Ellison
The senior from McDonough, Ga. is among the top ten in the top ten in the conference in one statistical category:
 
On-Base Percentage: 10th - .570
 
Jaydyn Goodwin
The senior from Paris, Ky. is among the top ten in the top ten in the conference in one statistical category:
 
Sacrifice Bunts: Tied Eighth - 3
 
Sarah Gordon
The senior from Louisville, Ky. is among the top ten in the conference in a two statistical categories:
 
Batting Average: Eight - .476
Doubles: Tied Fourth - 11
 
Bailey Lindemuth:
The sophomore from Burleson, Texas is in the top ten in the conference in one statistical category:
 
Assists: Sixth - 59
 
Marisa Miller
The senior from Suwanee, Ga.is in the top ten in the conference in one staistical category:
 
Caught Stealing By: Third - 4
 
Randi Roelling:
The junior from Modesto, Calif. ranks in the top ten in the conference in one statistical category:
 
Wins: Tied Eight - 9
 
Keirstin Roose:
The graduate from Wolcottville, Ind. ranks in the top ten in the conference in one statistical category:
 
Fielding Double Plays - Sixth - 10
 
Delani Sullivan
The junior from Georgetown, Ky. is among the top ten in the top ten in the conference in one statistical category:
 
Triples: Tied Eighth - 2
 
NCAA Stat Leaders (as of Sun, Mar. 22)
Sarah Gordon is tied 30th in the nation at this stage of the season in batting average (.476), as well as tied 28th in doubles (11). She's also 38th in slugging percentage at .917.
 
Tyler Ellison sits 26th in the nation with a .570 on-base percentage with Gordon following after tied 48th at .545.
 
Transfers in the Mix
Several members of Georgia's 2025 transfer class are starring for the Bulldogs this season.
 
In the circle, RHP Addisen Fisher sits at 7-1 with a team-best 1.95 ERA. She has one combined shut-out on the season, as well as one save. Through 43.0 innings pitched, she's surrendered just 37 hits and 12 earned runs with 26 strikeouts.
 
In the order, Keirstin Roose has impressed in the lead-off role for the Bulldogs. She has a team-best 10 home runs on the season while also driving in 25 runs. Delani Sullivan, while being a threat at the plate, has been a consistent presence in centerfield recording 31 put-outs this season with a perfect fielding percentage. Bailey Lindemuth has flashed her glove at the hot corner this season with just one error through 31 games and a team-best 59 assists. 
 
Roelling is Rolling
LHP Randi Roelling is on pace for her best season as a Bulldog through 17 total appearances. She currently has allowed 32 earned runs - just above one per game. In 2025, through 17 appearances, she had 41 earned runs.
 
More, her 72 strikeouts this season surpasses her 61 strikeout mark last season through 17 appearances. Further, she has dropped her walks from 50 last season to just 21 this year.
 
Freshman at First
Gabi Novickas has made 27 appearances this season including 17 at first base. In those appearances, she's batted at a .386 clip - fourth best on the team - while recording 17 hit, 12 runs, nine RBIs, four doubles and two home runs. 
 
More, she's recorded a team-best 145 put-outs with a perfect fielding percentage.
 
Lindemuth Looking Up
Across the last 10 games, sophomore Bailey Lindemuth has batted at a .36-clip, good for second-best on the team. She's added nine hits including a double and a home run with five RBIs in that span, as well as a team-high 21 assists. 
 
On the Horizon
Junior Emily Digby made her 150th career start in the Sunday rubber match against Mississippi State. 
 
Jaydyn Goodwin is two appearances away from 200 in her collegiate career.
 
Sarah Gordon is one pace to set the single-season batting average record for the program currently batting. 476 through 84 at-bats, as well as ranking second in program history in slugging percentage at .917. More, she is 17 hits away from 200 career hits.
 
Natalie Ray is two hits away from 100 in her career.
 
Bailey Lindemuth is one start away from 100 games started in her career.
 
 
Tyler Ellison is 17 hits away from hitting 100 career hits.
 
Addisen Fisher is seven appearances away from hitting 50 career hits.
 
Destin Howard is five appearances away from 50 career appearances.
 
Marisa Miller is four starts away from 100 career starts and 11 appearances away from 150 career appearances. In the Sunday rubber match against Mississippi State, the senior recorded her 50th career RBI.
 
Randi Roelling is 17 appearances away from her 100th career appearance. More, in game one of the series at Arkansas, she made her 50th career start.
 
Keirstin Roose made her 200 career start in the rubber match against Arkansas. She is 21 hits away from 200 career hits 18 runs away from 150 career runs.
 
Delani Sullivan recorded her 50th career run scored in game two of the series at Arkansas. She is four hits away from hitting 50 in her career.
 
Half-Century Mark
With Sunday's win over Mississippi State, head coach Tony Baldwin has reached the half-century mark in conference victories. 
 
Baldwin currently 186-83 all-time as the Bulldogs' head coach could hit the 200 win threshold this season, as well as the half-century mark in top-25 wins.
 
Mississippi State Series
Georgia hosted Mississippi State last weekend in its SEC home opening series, earning wins in games one and three to take the series.
 
On Friday, Baldwin's side capitalized on a six-run fifth inning despite being out-hit 12-3 in the game. LHP Ada Little earned the win in the circle for Georgia - her third of the season. Jaydyn Goodwin and Sarah Gordon each tallied two RBIs in the game to power the Bulldogs to the series opening, 6-3 win.
 
Mississippi State responded on Saturday with a 3-2 win with State's starting pitcher Alyssa Faircloth going the distance in a 7.0 inning, 11 strikeout performance. Goodwin opened the scoring on Saturday with a solo shot to right field before the visitors responded with three successive runs to tie the series. Saturday was also Alumni Day at The Jack with over 60 Georgia softball alumni returning to Athens to honor Coach Lu Harris-Champer on her Hall of Fame induction.
 
In the Sunday rubber match, Georgia jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after the first inning after loading the bases with no outs. Baldwin's team added a four-spot in the bottom of the third inning thanks to three RBI-singles and a RBI-sac fly from Digby. The visitors plated two in the fifth and one in the seventh to narrow the gap, but ultimately, LHP Randi Roelling's 7.0 inning, six strikeout performance propelled Georgia to the series win with a 7-4 Sunday decision.
 
SEC Opening Weekend Series
Georgia kicked off conference play on the road at No. 9 Arkansas last weekend going 1-2 across the weekend.
 
The Bulldogs took Friday's series opener, 7-2. Senior Jaydyn Goodwin kicked off the scoring in the top of the first inning with a solo home run. Georgia stacked on five more runs in the third inning behind four successive RBI-hits and a fielder's choice. Arkansas scored in the bottom of the third on a two-run shot before Tyler Ellison wrapped up the afternoon with a solo homer to left field.
 
The Razorbacks jumped out to an early lead with a first inning grand slam on Saturday, but the Bulldogs rallied to tie the game in the second off a two-RBI double from Bailey Lindemuth and a two-run shot from Keirstin Roose - her 10th home run of the campaign. Arkansas plated two more runs in the third inning before Lindemuth launched her first home run of the season to make it a one-run game. The Razorbacks added one more run in the fifth inning. Entering the top of the seventh down two, Roose scored off an infield single from Sarah Gordon. Ultimately, Georgia was unable to tie the game or take the lead with runners aboard, and Arkansas took game two, 7-6.
 
On Sunday, the Bulldog offense was never able to get rolling. Arkansas jumped out to an early 5-0 lead after the second inning before adding one insurance run via a solo home run in the sixth inning. The Razorbacks took the series with a 6-0 victory on Sunday.
 
Bulldog Classic Recap
Georgia was a perfect 4-0 across the weekend in the 17th Annual Bulldog Classic with two wins each over South Alabama and UNC-Wilmington. In Friday night's game against the Jaguars, LHP Randi Roelling made her ninth start of the season. After walking the first batter, Roelling shut down the South Alabama offense there after en route to a seven strikeout, complete game no-hitter - the first of her career. In the win, Sarah Gordon, Emma Castorri and Tyler Ellison all homered. Ellison's home run in the bottom of the fifth inning was a walk-off, run-rule score to seal the win, 8-0 (5 inn.).
 
On Saturday, freshman LHP Presley Harrison made her return to the circle - her first appearance since the opening game of the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational. Harrison went 4.0 innings with one hit and three strikeouts to move to 2-0 on the season. Two early home runs by Gordon and Emily Digby saw Georgia race out to a 3-0 lead and hold on for the 9-0 (5 inn.) victory. Later that afternoon, Baldwin's side and UNC-Wilmington met for the first time during the weekend. Senior RHP Destin Howard made the start and earned her first win of the season in a 4.0 inning, one hit, one earned run and three strikeout performance. Senior C Marisa Miller blasted the Bulldogs' third grand slam of the season and the first of her career in the bottom of the first inning. Georgia piled on five runs in the bottom of the first frame, and Gordon also homered in the 9-1 (5 inn.) win.
 
The Bulldogs closed out Bulldog Classic action on Sunday afternoon with another contest against the Seahawks. RHP Maddie Johnson also returned to action making her second start of the season and going 2.0 innings with just one hit and one earned run. Roelling returned to the circle to close the final 3.0 innings with three hits and five strikeouts to earn her team-best seventh win of the season. Graduate INF Keirstin Roose had two home runs in the game, and Gordon launched her fourth home run of the weekend - one in each game - to seal a 9-1 (5 inn.) win.
 
Georgia Classic Recap
The Bulldogs opened the 23rd Annual Georgia Classic against Seton Hall last Friday night with a 9-1 (5 inn.) victory. The Bulldogs took a swift 3-0 lead after two innings off an Emily Digby RBI-single and Bailey Lindemuth two RBI-triple. The Pirates added one in the third before Georgia cruised to the run-rule win in five. Later Friday evening, Georgia defeated Utah State, 4-1, paced by freshman LHP Ada Little's first career win and three-run second inning.
 
On Saturday, the Bulldogs opened the rain-delayed afternoon with an afternoon loss to No. 20 Virginia Tech, 9-3 before turning around and beating Utah State, 11-2 (5 inn.) on Saturday evening. 
 
Georgia closed the weekend dropping the Georgia Classic finale to the Hokies, 9-3. 
 
March Position Rankings
Four Bulldogs were recognized in Softball America's March Position Rankings.
 
Sarah Gordon was tabbed as the No. 1 overall UTL, Emily Digby as the No. 3 SS, Keirstin Roose as the No. 4 2B and Tyler Ellison as the No. 13 UTL.
 
National Recognition
A trio of Bulldogs have earned preseason recognition from both Softball America and D1Softball. In the Softball America preseason Top 100 Player Rankings, Sarah Gordon checked in at No. 78 and transfer pitcher Addisen Fisher spotted in at No. 93. More, Jaydyn Goodwin, Gordon and Fisher were tabbed as the No. 12 outfielder, the No. 8 UTL player and the No. 23 pitcher, respectively, by the outlet. 
 
D1Softball had three Georgia players in it's D100 preseason Player Rankings with Goodwin at No. 52, Gordon at No. 67 and Fisher at No. 74. Positionally, by D1Softball, Goodwin was pinned as the No. 20 outfielder, Gordon as the No. 14 outfielder and Fisher as the No. 25 pitcher. 
 
Eyes on the Freshman
Four Bulldog freshmen earned spots on Softball America and D1Softball's preseason Freshman Watch Lists. Pitchers Presley Harrison and Ada Little along with infielder Brooke Smith were all selected to the Softball America Freshman Watch List. More, Harrison and Little joined infielder Gabi Novickas on D1Softball's SEC Freshman Watch List.
 
New Faces, New Places
12 new players will don the red and black this season with six transfer athletes and six freshmen.
 
Out of the portal, Baldwin and his staff welcome sophomore pitchers Addisen Fisher and Maddie Johnson. Fisher, a UCLA transfer, was tabbed to the Big-10 All-Freshman Team last season, as well as the D1Softball Freshman All-American First Team. Johnson, an Athens native, arrives from Georgia Southern after being named to the All-Sun Belt Conference First Team and to the D1Softball Freshman All-American Second Team. Outfielders Natalie Ray and Delani Sullivan join infielders Bailey Lindemuth and Keirsten Roose to round out the portal class. Ray is a North Georgia transfer who started her career at Ole Miss while Sullivan arrives from SEC opponent Kentucky. Lindemuth comes to Athens after reaching the Womens' College World Series with Texas Tech last season, and graduate transfer Roose joins the Bulldogs after four strong seasons with Coastal Carolina.
 
Two of Georgia's six freshman signees will join the pitching staff in lefty Ada Little from Georgetown, Ky and the right-handed Presley Harrison from Baxley, Ga. Infielders Gabi Novickas, Brooke Smith and Katelin Smith hail from Chicago, Ill., Brandon, Miss. and Glennville, Ga. Outfielder Natalie Donaldson, a native of DeWitt, Mich. rounds out the six-person freshman class and the 12 newcomers.
 
Clearwater Recap
After suffering a loss in the opener in Clearwater to No. 23 Oklahoma State, the Bulldogs rallied for five successive wins including two ranked wins to close out play in Florida.
 
On Thursday, down 6-0 going into the sixth inning, the Bulldogs scored three in the bottom of the frame before adding another two runs in the bottom of the seventh against Oklahoma State. Later that afternoon after falling to Oklahoma State, 6-5, Georgia rebounded with a 6-5 win over No. 8 Nebraska.
 
On Saturday, the Bulldog bats came alive in successive five inning, rule-rule victories over NC State and UCF. Georgia took down the Wolfpack, 16-2 (5 inn.), and UCF, 13-5 (5 inn.).
 
To end play in Clearwater, Georgia won both games against Northwestern and No. 22 Duke. With the score level after three innings against Northwestern, the Bulldogs punched a seven-spot in the top of the fourth inning en route to an 8-3 win. Later, against Duke, Georgia hit three straight home runs in the top of the first inning - the first time since Feb. 9, 2024 against Murray State - to run out 9-1 (5 inn.) victors.
 
Over the course of the weekend, Georgia tallied 57 runs in six games. More pointedly, in the fourth inning alone across all six games, the Bulldogs tallied 26 runs. 
 
What's Up Next?
Baldwin's side trek up to Lexington, Ky. for a series against the Wildcats. A complete list of this weekend's conference slate is compiled below:
 
Georgia at Kentucky, Fri. Mar. 27 - Sun. Mar. 29
 
Ole Miss at Tennessee, Fri. Mar. 27 - Sun. Mar. 29
 
Oklahoma at LSU, Fri. Mar. 27 - Sun. Mar. 29
 
Missouri at Auburn, Fri. Mar. 27 - Sun. Mar. 29
 
Florida at Arkansas, Fri. Mar. 27 - Sun. Mar. 29
 
Texas A&M at Texas, Fri. Mar. 27 - Sun. Mar. 29
 
South Carolina at Mississippi State, Sat. Mar. 28 - Mon. Mar. 30
 
Gordon Tabbed National Player of the Week
Senior Sarah Gordon was tabbed the National Player of the Week by D1Softball, Softball America and Softball on SI following play in Clearwater, Florida. During the week, Gordon went 12-18 with nine runs, 10 RBIs, six doubles, one triple, three home runs and two walks while only striking out once. She also slugged 1.444 while boasting a 0.700 OBP with a perfect fielding percentage and a team-high 17 put-outs.
 
Clearwater Team of the Tournament
Sarah Gordon and Kierstin Roose were named to the 2026 Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational Team of the Tournament following their performances in Florida.
 
Georgia was one of four schools with two or more players named to the team. 
 
2025 Season Recap
- Georgia finished the 2025 season at 35-23 after reaching the Gainesville Super Regional, falling one win short of a sixth trip back to Oklahoma City.
- The Bulldogs tallied a 7-16 mark in conference play, finishing 12th overall in the Southeastern Conference.
- In the SEC Tournament, hosted in Athens, Georgia reached the second round of play before falling to No. 5-seed Arkansas.
- Senior Dallis Goodnight was named Second Team All-SEC after hitting at a .345 clip for 45 runs off 61 hits with four doubles, four triples, two home runs and 11 RBIs.
- Four Bulldogs earned NFCA All-South Region honors. Goodnight and Jaydyn Goodwin landed on the Second Team, and Sarah Gordon and Marisa Miller were named to the Third Team.
- Rising senior Destin Howard was named to the 2025 SEC Softball Community Service Team for her actions within and commitment to her home and Athens communities.
- 53,867 fans packed into The Jack over the course of the 2025 season - a new season record. More, during the series against No. 3 LSU, a program-best 7,098 fans were in attendance.
 
 
 
 
 
Georgia Softball vs. Mississippi State Highlights
Sunday, March 22
Georgia Softball - Head Coach Tony Baldwin Postgame Interview vs Mississippi State
Saturday, March 21
Georgia Softball vs Mississippi St. Postgame Highlights
Friday, March 20
Georgia Softball vs Georgia Tech Post game Interview
Wednesday, March 18