SOFTBALL: UGA Finishes Weekend 4-0 Over Bryant, North Carolina
The No. 15-ranked Georgia Bulldogs secured victories over Bryant and North Carolina on the final day of the Georgia Classic at the Jack Turner Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
With the wins, Georgia improves to 14-2 on the season.
No. 15 Georgia 5, Bryant 2
Georgia and Bryant took to the field for the second time this weekend in a rematch of Friday night’s 18-run thriller.
Lauren Mathis earned the start in the circle for the Bulldogs pitching 3.0 innings. Freshman Rebecca Muh pitched an inning before Madison Kerpics (4-1) came in relief for the final three innings. Kerpics earned the victory in relief, allowing no runs on two hits, fanning eight Bryant (0-4) hitters.
Georgia scored their five runs off nine hits and recorded no errors. Senior Savanna Sikes led the Bulldogs with three hits. Fellow senior Lacey Fincher added two hits and two RBI.
Georgia touched home plate first in the third inning following an RBI double to left center from sophomore Sydney Chambley to drive in Sikes.
Following a two-RBI double, Bryant briefly claimed the lead in the top of the fourth, 2-1. Redshirt-junior Jaiden Fields responded with a solo shot to left field to level the score in the home half of the inning.
Fincher extended the Bulldogs’ lead to 4-2 on a two-out, two-RBI double in the fifth. Sydney Kuma’s leadoff home run to left field in the sixth put Georgia up 5-2.
Kerpics struck out eight of the final eleven batters she faced to close out the win for the Bulldogs.
No. 15 Georgia 8, North Carolina 1
In the final matchup of the Georgia Classic, Georgia rounded out its perfect weekend against the Tar Heels (9-6).
Freshman Kylie Macy got the start in the circle for Georgia. Macy pitched one and two-thirds innings before leaving the game after being hit in the side by a line drive. Kerpics (5-1) pitched the remainder of the game posting three strikeouts while only allowing two hits of shutout softball.
Sophomore Jayda Kearney and Fields registered two hits each while four total Bulldogs had two RBI each. As a team, Georgia scattered seven hits to UNC’s five.
Junior Sara Mosley homered to right field in the bottom of the first inning to give the Bulldogs the early 1-0 advantage.
The Tar Heels leveled the score following a fielding error at first base in the top of the second, but Kearney’s RBI double reclaimed the lead after two, 2-1.
The Bulldogs plated five runs in the third off five hits, highlighted by Field’s triple to left center field. The big hit of the inning was a double down the left field line off the bat of Lyndi Rae Davis. Georgia led 7-1 after three.
Fields’ strong day at the plate continued in the fourth with an RBI single deep in the hole at short for the final score of the game, 8-1.
Georgia hosts Ohio, Massachusetts, and Appalachian State in the Bulldog Classic next weekend at the Jack Turner Stadium. Admission to all game is free.
WBB: #20/25 Georgia (8-7 SEC) vs. Texas A&M (4-11 SEC) in Regular Season Finale at Stegeman
Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022 | 2 p.m. ET | Stegeman Coliseum (10,523) | Athens, Ga.
Watch: SEC Network + (Matt Stewart and Mark Slonaker)
Listen: Georgia Bulldog Sports Network (Jeff Dantzler)
960 AM The Ref, WXKT 103.7 FM and the Georgia Bulldog App
Opening Tip Storylines
» Georgia hosts Texas A&M in the regular season finale this Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.
» The Lady Bulldogs will honor four seniors — Malury Bates, Mikayla Coombs, Que Morrison and Jenna Staiti — before tipoff. This senior class has been to a pair of NCAA tournaments and last year helped Georgia advance to the SEC tournament finals for the first time since 2004.
» Georgia will also pay tribute to Texas A&M’s Hall of Fame Head Coach Gary Blair. Blair — who led the Aggies to the 2011 national title — announced his retirement from coaching before the season began. He has spent 19 years on the sideline in College Station and has been advocate for women’s basketball for many years.
» The Lady Bulldogs are ranked No. 20 in the Coaches Poll, No. 25 in the AP and No. 22 in the NET rankings.
» The Lady Bulldogs defeated then-No. 2 ranked Texas A&M, 74-68, in last year’s SEC tournament semifinals. Georgia upset the Aggies thanks to 19 points from Maya Caldwell and 14 second-half points from Mikayla Coombs.
» Georgia is coming off a 63-62 win at Arkansas on Thursday, improving the team’s record to 9-3 away from home this season.
» Freshman guard Reigan Richardson has scored in double figures in four of the last five games with a 15-point effort against the Razorbacks. Richardson has hit close to 60 percent (13 of 22) from the field in the last three contests.
» Fellow rookie Tineya Hylton made a pair of defensive stops to secure the win against Arkansas. Hylton drew an offensive foul with 10 seconds remaining and then forced an Arkansas turnover as time expired.
Georgia Season Notebook
Nicholson Starts
» Junior forward Javyn Nicholson has started four-straight games at the ‘4’ spot. Nicholson is making the most of her starts over the last few weeks. Her plus-minus (a ratio of points Georgia scores versus opponent points when she is in the game) was a combined +20 in games against South Carolina, Missouri and Auburn. She had one of her best performances of the season with 11 points off 5-for-6 shooting against Auburn.
Morrison Approaching Georgia Record
» Graduate guard Que Morrison has played in 134 career games during her time at Georgia. During today’s game, Morrison will tie a new school record, set by Cori Chambers from 2003-07. Jenna Staiti has played in 147 contests, but 35 of those were during her time at Maryland.
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