Georgia Bulldogs Rout Samford in Series Opener

Bulldogs' offense explodes with three home runs in 11-1 victory

Feb. 20, 2026 at 10:35pm

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The Georgia Bulldogs baseball team continued their strong start to the season with an 11-1 win over Samford on Friday. The Bulldogs' offense was firing on all cylinders, with home runs from Henry Allen, Dylan Lujo, and Kolby Branch. Newcomer Joey Volchko, a transfer from Stanford, pitched six strong innings to earn the win on the mound.

Why it matters

The Bulldogs' decisive victory over Samford extends their early-season momentum and showcases the team's offensive firepower. With the win, Georgia improves to 4-1 on the year, setting them up well for the remainder of their non-conference schedule before SEC play begins.

The details

Georgia's offense got going early and never let up, going 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position and tallying nine hits overall. Branch led the way, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. On the mound, Volchko struck out eight batters, allowed just three hits and one earned run, and walked two in his six innings of work to earn the win.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 20, 2026.
  • Game two of the three-game series will be played on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 2 p.m.
  • Game three will be played on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 1 p.m.

The players

Joey Volchko

A transfer from Stanford, Volchko pitched six strong innings, striking out eight batters and allowing just one earned run to earn the win.

Kolby Branch

Branch went 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs and two runs scored, helping to power Georgia's offensive outburst.

Henry Allen

Allen hit one of Georgia's three home runs in the game, contributing to the Bulldogs' offensive explosion.

Dylan Lujo

Lujo also hit a home run for Georgia, adding to the team's power display at the plate.

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What they’re saying

“We came out ready to play today and our offense really set the tone early. Joey Volchko gave us a great start on the mound, and the guys did a nice job of capitalizing on our opportunities at the plate.”

— Scott Stricklin, Georgia Bulldogs Head Coach

What’s next

The Bulldogs will look to continue their strong start to the season with games two and three of their three-game series against Samford on Saturday and Sunday.

The takeaway

Georgia's decisive victory over Samford showcases the team's offensive firepower and depth, with contributions from both veteran and new faces. If the Bulldogs can maintain this level of production, they will be a force to be reckoned with as they gear up for SEC play.