UGA Softball: Bulldogs Blank Governors Sunday, 8-0
| Team | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 8 | 8 | 0 |
ATHENS, Ga. – The 19th-ranked Georgia softball team wrapped up a 6-0 week at home with an 8-0 victory over Austin Peay Sunday at Jack Turner Stadium.
The Bulldogs have won six-straight games and improve to 14-3 on the season and undefeated at home through 11 games.
Senior Ciara Bryan led the Bulldogs offensively going 3-for-3 at the plate, scoring twice with an RBI. Sophomore Lacey Fincher added to the effort with a hit and a pair of RBI including a walk off solo shot to secure the win for Georgia in the bottom of the sixth.
Mary Wilson Avant (6-2) worked five innings in her start in the circle, tossing a no-hitter through four innings. She fanned five Governors (4-7) and walked none. She retired 13 of 14 batters before allowing a hit with one out in the fifth. Alley Cutting pitched an inning in relief on Sunday.
With runners on the corners, a stolen base by Sydney Kuma prompted an errant throw down to second by the catcher, allowing Bryan to score and put Georgia on the board, 1-0. Georgia loaded the bases in the inning but stranded them full.
A five-run second inning for the Bulldogs began with back-to-back bases-loaded walks to Kuma and Fincher. A wild pitch allowed Jordan Doggett to score. Mackenzie Puckett doubled down the left field line, driving two more runs in and opening a six-run Georgia lead, 6-0.
An RBI single to right off the bat of Bryan drove in Savana Sikes to widen the lead to 7-0 in the fifth.
Fincher began the sixth by sending the first pitch of the inning over the camera platform in center to enact the run rule and end the game, 8-0.
Up next, Georgia hosts Alabama State Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. against the Hornets. Georgia then travels to Clemson for the first-ever meeting with the Tigers in their inaugural season. First pitch from Clemson is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer
On what impressed her during this game…
“I thought Mary Wilson [Avant], on the mound, really set the tone for us today. She’s just really steady and confident. She’s fun to play behind, and she can do so many things out there. The offense was outstanding. Ciara Bryan had a heck of a day leading us off and finding a way to get on base consistently as well as Lacey closing the game out with that last at bat.”
On how being 5-0 this weekend affects their momentum going forward…
“I thought that we fought hard. We were locked in on each game and what we needed to do to win each game. We were locked in on our process, our approach, and had a good team environment today.”
Senior Jordan Doggett
On how being 5-0 this weekend affects their momentum going forward…
“I think it’s great momentum for us. Like I said in my last interview, the Clearwater tournament was a little rough for us, so to win these six games this whole week is a great confidence boost for us going in to our next few games. I just think it’s a really big confidence boost.”