UGA Softball: Georgia Defeats #21 James Madison, Central Michigan Saturday
| Team | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 6 | 4 | |
| 13 | 9 | 3 |
| Team | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 2 | |
| 7 | 11 | 1 |
ATHENS, Ga. – The 19th-ranked Georgia softball program remained undefeated at home with a pair of wins Saturday at Jack Turner Stadium.
Georgia defeated 21st-ranked James Madison in run-rule fashion for the second-straight day, 13-5. The Bulldogs followed it up with a 7-4 victory over Central Michigan later in the afternoon.
#19 Georgia 13, #21 James Madison 5 (6 inn.)
The Bulldogs scattered nine hits, led by two-hit performances from freshman Sara Mosley and sophomore Savana Sikes, driving in three and two runs, respectively. Georgia had five extra-base hits including home runs from Jordan Doggett, Mackenzie Puckett, and Mosley.
Mary Wilson Avant (5-2) worked the complete game, going six innings. She struck out six and allowed five runs, only one of which was earned.
Ciara Bryan began the home half of the second by reaching on an error and stealing second. She came in to score on a single to center off the bat of Sydney Kuma. After a walk to Lacey Fincher, Mosley stepped in and blasted her third home run of the season into the trees in right center to widen Georgia’s early lead to 4-0 in the first.
A two-out, three-run home run by James Madison’s (5-3) Kate Gordon quickly cut Georgia’s lead to one in the top of the second, 4-3.
Doggett knocked her fifth-career home run, a solo shot, over the wall in right center in the bottom of the inning, 5-3 Bulldogs. Puckett followed with a two-run shot of her own in the third to widen Georgia’s lead back to four, 7-3.
A solo home run by Michelle Sullivan and a couple Georgia errors allowed JMU to plate two runs in the fourth, cutting the lead to two, 7-5.
For the second-straight day against the Dukes, a big inning propelled Georgia to a run-rule victory. A bases-loaded walk to Fincher and a wild pitch plated two runs for Georgia, 9-5. An RBI groundout by Puckett tipped the double-digit run mark, 10-5. Sikes plugged the left center gap to drive in two then CJ Landrum doubled to drive in Sikes and end the game, 13-5.
#19 Georgia 7, Central Michigan 4
Georgia continued its perfect week with a 7-4 win over Central Michigan in the afternoon. Kuma led the charge offensively for the Bulldogs, finishing with a three-hit day, driving in two runs. Mahlena O’Neal and Doggett tallied two hits apiece against the Chippewas (1-7).
Lauren Mathis (5-0) went the distance, tying her career-best 13 strikeouts she set just Wednesday against Samford. She allowed two earned runs on three hits.
Central Michigan jumped out to a two-run lead with a home run to left by Morgan Gardner in the top of the third, 2-0.
In the bottom of the inning, a two-run double by Doggett quickly tied the game. Kuma, the next batter, gave Georgia the lead when she knocked her first-career home run to right center, 4-2 Georgia.
Tyler Armistead tripled down the right field line in the bottom half of the fourth. On the play, an errant throw by the right fielder got away from the infielders, allowing Armistead to score and open a three-run lead, 5-2.
The Chippewas immediately got two runs back in the top of the fourth with another two-run home run, this time by Shaiden Knapp, 5-4.
A sacrifice fly off the bat of Mosley in the home half of the fifth drew the lead back out to two, 6-4. An RBI groundout to second by Bryan scored Sikes and brought Georgia’s final tally to 7-4 in the sixth.
Up next, Georgia will face off against Austin Peay Sunday at 1 p.m. to end play of the Georgia Classic. The game will stream live on SEC Network+.
Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer
On the games today…
“It’s a new day. You just have to build on what you’ve been doing. We had some really good offensive performances in both games. In game one, several kids had an RBI double. Sara Mosley really came in clutch. [Mackenzie] Puckett got two and Savana [Sikes] got two. In game two, I thought Jordan [Doggett] was really clutch for us to come from behind, add tack on, and add some more runs in there. It was just really exciting to see them hit the ball, lock into an approach, and let that approach work for them.”
On tomorrow’s game…
“It’s really just the same thing. No matter who we’re playing, we’re working our approach, and we’re playing our game. I also want to say that Sydney Kuma had an outstanding game at the plate.”