[break] The Georgia softball team picked up a pair of shutout wins on the first day of the Red and Black Showcase at Jack Turner Stadium in Athens, Ga. The Bulldogs got the day started with a 5-0 win over Illinois before blanking Murray State 8-0 in six innings in the final game of the day. With the wins, Georgia improves to 3-0 on the year.

[break] [break] Chelsea Wilkinson earned both wins on the day, improving to 2-0 on the year. She did not allow a run and gave up just four hits, while striking out 17 in 12 innings of work.
[break] [break] The Bulldogs outhit their opponents 24-4 on the day. Georgia was led by Cortni Emanuel with five hits, followed by Paige Wilson and Sydni Emanuel with four hits each. Wilson and S. Emanuel posted five RBI each. Alex Hugo and S. Emanuel each had a home run on the day.
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[break] Georgia 5, Illinois 0
Georgia got the day started right, earning its second-straight shutout win of the season, this one a 5-0 victory over Illinois. Wilkinson made her first appearance of the season and hurled a complete-game shutout. She allowed just three hits and struck out 10 batters.
[break] [break] Illinois used three pitchers, but Breanna Wonderly got the start and suffered the loss. She allowed five runs on nine hits and two walks in 4.1 innings of work. Kate Giddens and Jade Vecvanags combined to throw the final two innings, allowing two hits and a walk.
[break] [break] C. Emanuel continued to shine for the Bulldogs, going 3-for-4 in the game. S. Emanuel and Wilson each picked up two hits against Illinois. Hugo brought the big bat for Georgia, hitting the first home run of the season, a two-run shot over the left center field wall.
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[break] Illinois looked to get on the board first, recording back-to-back singles to start the third inning. Wilkinson settled in and retired the next three batters on a strikeout, a groundout and a pop up.
[break] [break] Georgia kept the momentum on its side in the bottom half of the third, taking a 1-0 lead. Samantha LaZear led off with a double down the left field line and moved to third on a one-out single by C. Emanuel. Wilson came through with a sacrifice fly that put Georgia up 1-0 when LaZear crossed the plate.
[break] [break] The Bulldog offense exploded for four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend its lead to 4-0. S. Emanuel led off the inning with an infield single before C. Emanuel singled through the left side. Wilson followed with a single of her own that scored S. Emanuel and made it a 2-0 game. C. Emanuel was caught trying for third base, setting up Hugo with two on and one away. Hugo wasted little before belting a home run to left center, the first home run of the season for Georgia, which scored Wilson and made it a 4-0 game. After Kaylee Puailoa walked, Illinois went to its bullpen for Giddens. She hit Anna Swafford with her first pitch, allowing Swafford to set the new Georgia program record for hit by pitches in a career with 51. After Katie Collins walked, Niaja Griffin roped a double to left field allowing Puailoa to score and give Georgia a 5-0 lead.
[break] [break] The Georgia defense allowed just one base runner over the final two innings, preserving the 5-0 shutout victory for the Bulldogs.
[break] [break] Georgia 8, Murray State 0
The winning continued into the nightcap, as Georgia earned an 8-0, six-inning shutout win over Murray State.
[break] [break] Wilkinson got her second win of the day after throwing five scoreless innings. She allowed just one hit and struck out seven. Brittany Gray threw the final inning for Georgia, picking up two strikeouts.
[break] [break] S. Emanuel and Wilson continued to be hot at the plate, each picking up two hits and three RBI. Hugo again provided the dramatics, delivering a walk-off triple in the bottom of the sixth that sealed the 8-0 win for Georgia.
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[break] Georgia wasted little time in the second game of the doubleheader, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. C. Emanuel got the first hit of the game on an infield single and then stole second and third base. She scored on a RBI-single up the middle off the bat of Wilson.
[break] [break] The Bulldogs tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the second inning. Griffin got things started by drawing a walk. LaZear followed with a single and both runners advanced on a throwing error by the pitcher. With runners in scoring position, S. Emanuel lifted the pitch high and deep over the left field wall and off the scoreboard for her first home run in the Red and Black. Scoring on the home run was LaZear and Griffin, putting Georgia up 4-0.
[break] [break] Wilkinson hummed along over the next two innings, facing just one of the minimum and striking out three. Georgia plated two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, extending its lead to 6-0. LaZear led the inning off with an infield single and moved to second on a single through the left side by S. Emanuel. After a double steal that put runners at second and third, Wilson singled up the middle to score both runners and gave Georgia 6-0 lead. A double play ended the inning.
[break] [break] After a quiet fifth inning, Georgia got back to work in the bottom of the sixth inning. Pinch hitters Savannah McHellon and Maeve McGuire put a pair of runners by way of a walk and a single. With runners at second and third and one out, Hugo belted a triple off the top of the right field wall that scored both runners and sealed the victory.
[break] [break] Georgia is back in action tomorrow, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m., and 4:30 p.m., against Illinois and Coppin State in the Red and Black Showcase in Athens, Ga.