Georgia Takes First Game of Series Against South Carolina, 5-2

Friday, March 27

Athens, Ga.

6 pm

University of Georgia

21-6, 5-2

South Carolina

13-14, 1-6

South Carolina

Georgia

Georgia Takes First Game of Series Against South Carolina, 5-2

March 27, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score Gerorgia-SC Friday

ATHENS, Ga. — Fourth-ranked Georgia defeated South Carolina, 5-2, in the weekend series opener at Foley Field on Friday night before a crowd of 3,438 fans.

Fast Facts

Junior Joey Volchko (5-0) got the start on the mound for Georgia (21-6, 5-2 SEC) and allowed just two runs with six strikeouts across 6.2 innings of work for the win. South Carolina (13-14, 1-6 SEC) starter Josh Gunther (2-2) suffered the loss after tossing 4.0 innings with five runs off three hits. Senior Justin Byrd (3) got the save after relieving Volchko in the eighth and striking out five to end the game.
South Carolina stuck first in the second with one run off an RBI single. The Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single of their own from sophomore Kenny Ishikawa.
Later in the second inning, junior Daniel Jackson stepped to the plate with bases loaded and launched his third grand slam of the season to give Georgia a 5-1 lead.
Volchko then held the Gamecocks to four scoreless innings, collecting four strikeouts in the process.
South Carolina added a second run to the board in the seventh before Byrd took the mound and finished the game for the Bulldogs, 5-2.

Quotes

Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Wes Johnson
On preparing for South Carolina with their coaching change...
"I've told our guys it's a wild card weekend this weekend. One of the things that I challenged our guys to do on the mound was not letting the leadoff guy on. They haven't bunted a ton all year, but we didn't know. We were successful eight out of the nine innings not letting the leadoff guy on. When you can do that, you kind of hold them down. If they're going to go off script, it makes it a little tougher."

Joey Volchko | Jr. | RHP
On his performance....
"Every line up can get you. You have to stay 100 percent locked in. There are no free games in the schedule from here on out. It helps to work during the week. I know if I go out and execute what I need to execute, I will get good results."

Daniel Jackson | Jr. | C
On his home run and grand slam...
"First at bat, he was flipping me over those big curveballs, and it seemed like it would be the only pitch he landed at the moment. Going into that second at-bat, I was just sitting on that curveball. If he threw me a couple other pitches and I got to two strikes, from there on I would try to battle with two strikes. I got the pitch I was looking for."

Up Next
Georgia will return to Foley Field tomorrow for the second game of the series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. The game will be live on SECN+ and the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network.