[su_spacer size=”20″] The Georgia softball team dropped a 1-0, nine-inning decision to the Tennessee Lady Vols on Monday, March 30 at Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. With the loss the Bulldogs fall to 29-8 on the year and are now 6-6 in Southeastern Conference play. Tennessee is now 26-7 overall and 6-3 in league play.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Rainey Gaffin (4-1) got the win after throwing 3.2 perfect innings that included six strikeouts. Brittany Gray (11-3) suffered the loss. She allowed one run on eight hits and two walks in 7.2 innings.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Both teams had chances early, but were unable to push a runner across. Georgia had its chances in the first, third and fifth innings, putting runners on in each inning. The Bulldogs’ best chance early came in the top of the fifth on a single by Kaylee Puailoa, an error and a wild pitch put a runner at third. A strikeout and a ground out ended the inning with the runner aboard.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Tennessee looked poised to score in bottom of the seventh, putting runners at first and third. Sydni Emanuel made a running grab in left field for out number three.
[su_spacer size=”40″] After Georgia was unable to score in the top of the eighth, the Lady Vols put runners at first and third with one out on a double and a walk. Chelsea Wilkinson came in to pitch for the Bulldogs with two away. With a runners at second and third, she was called for an illegal pitch, allowing the winning run to score.
[su_spacer size=”40″] It will be a quick turnaround for the Bulldogs as they will be back in action at 7 p.m., on Wednesday, April 1 when they host North Carolina at Jack Turner Stadium in Athens, Ga.