UGA Softball: Georgia Surrenders First Home Loss to South Carolina, 4-2
| Team | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2 | 6 | 2 |
ATHENS, Ga. – The Georgia Bulldogs suffered their first home loss against the South Carolina Gamecocks, 4-2, in the Southeastern Conference opener on Friday evening at Jack Turner Stadium.
Senior Mary Wilson Avant (9-4) got the start in the circle for the Bulldogs and worked all seven innings. Avant tallied 13 strikeouts which marks a career high against an SEC opponent. She surrendered five hits and allowed four runs though only three were earned.
Two Bulldogs (20-5, 0-1) recorded RBI, including sophomore CJ Landrum and freshman Sara Mosley. Two Bulldogs tallied two hits including Landrum and junior Mackenzie Puckett. Other Bulldogs who produced at the plate included freshman Sydney Kuma who tacked on a hit of her own. In all, Georgia plated two runs on six hits.
A two-out RBI single put South Carolina (15-4, 1-0) on the board first, going up 1-0 in the first inning. Georgia was unable to answer and the score remained 1-0 through two innings of play.
In the top of the third, the Gamecocks plated another run as a result of two-straight errors. Following another RBI single for South Carolina, the Bulldogs entered the bottom of the frame facing a three-run deficit.
Landrum marked Georgia’s first batter to reach as the result of a lead-off single to get the Bulldogs going but was called out for leaving early in an attempt to steal second. Puckett followed with a single of her own but Georgia was unable to capitalize.
Avant walked three batters to load the bases with two outs in the top of the fourth but was able to work out of the jam without surrendering any runs with a strikeout.
Kuma singled down the right field line in the leadoff spot in the bottom of the fourth and Fincher followed by drawing a walk. The freshman duo was at it again with Mosley driving in Kuma with an RBI single to center. Senior Mahlena O’Neal laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to bring Doggett up to the plate with the tying run on base. Doggett reached on a single but Fincher was tagged out at third. The Bulldogs, however, were able to cut their deficit to one, 3-2, with an RBI single from Landrum.
Avant denied South Carolina a run for two-straight innings. Georgia began the bottom of the fifth with a single, this time from Puckett. In at pinch runner, junior Jacqui Switzer stole third, putting herself in position to score but two-straight outs kept Georgia trailing by one.
The Gamecocks were able to extend their lead to two runs in the seventh thanks to an RBI double. Georgia was unable to overcome the two-run deficit, falling to South Carolina by a final score of 4-2.
The series between Georgia and South Carolina will continue Saturday, March 6, at 2 p.m. Saturday’s game will feature a replica jersey t-shirt giveaway to 250 fans as well as postgame autographs with select members of the Georgia softball team.
Georgia Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer
“I think that CJ Landrum and Mackenzie Puckett had some really good at bats for us tonight with Mosley getting a clutch RBI. Yeah, we just need to get tougher.”
Senior Mary Wilson Avant
On the team’s mindset tonight…
“I think we were maybe a little amped up to start SEC play and tried to do a little more than we needed to. We have enough if we just be us. Sometimes we try to do a little too much.”
On the rest of the series…
“We can’t let that affect what we do the rest of the weekend. We have to bounce back and just come out fighting tomorrow and have a little bit more intent.”