The No. 9 Georgia Bulldogs (17-1) remain undefeated in the Georgia Softball Classic, as they picked up a pair of wins in both games on Saturday. The Bulldogs defeated No. 19 Minnesota with a walk-off 6-5 win and Austin Peay 17-8 in a five-inning decision.
 
 
The Georgia offense had themselves a day full of long ball, as six Bulldogs sent eight home runs soaring out of Jack Turner Stadium. In the game against No. 19 Minnesota, Georgia produced back-to-back home runs from Alyssa DiCarlo and Maeve McGuire. Against Austin Peay, Maeve McGuire and Tina Iosefa each contributed to the home run action with one apiece while Alex Hugo and Kaylee Puailoa each had two.
 
 
Georgia returns to action on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET with a rematch against No. 19 Minnesota to finish off the Georgia Softball Classic. The game will air on SEC Network+/WatchESPN.
 
 
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Game one—No. 9 Georgia 6, No. 19 Minnesota 5

After taking an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Bulldogs had to fight their way back for a full seven innings.

Cortni Emanuel started things off with a single to left field followed by a Hugo walk. After a sacrifice fly from Iosefa, C. Emanuel scored giving the Bulldogs their early 1-0 lead. However, the Gophers quickly answered back. In the top of the second, Minnesota scored four runs and took the 4-1 lead.

DiCarlo and McGuire then took matters into their own hands and sent back-to-back home runs over the wall, closing the gap to 4-3. Minnesota fired back with another run in the third, increasing its lead to 5-3.

After two and a half scoreless innings on both sides, the Bulldogs tied up the game at 5 each. C. Emanuel connected with a triple followed by a sacrifice fly from Hugo, making it a 5-4 ballgame with one out. After Iosefa reached on a walk, Minnesota completed two errors, scoring the tying run.

With the game knotted, it all came down to the final frame. Minnesota threatened with a runner on base, but Lacey Sumerlin ended the inning with a double play. The Bulldogs finished strong with a single from Sydni Emanuel and a double from C. Emanuel, as the sophomore brought in her sister to decide the 6-5 game.
 
 

Game two—No. 9 Georgia 17, Austin Peay 8 (5)

The Bulldogs’ offense was explosive from the beginning, as they went ahead 4-0 over Austin Peay in the first inning.

C. Emanuel led off for the Bulldogs and connected with a single to left. Hugo then blasted one over the center field fence, jumping ahead 2-0. Iosefa and Puailoa would add the other two runs after Iosefa reached on a double to center field and Puailoa homered to right field.

Austin Peay did not back down, as the Lady Govs produced four hits in the second inning, scoring one and making it a 4-1 ballgame. However, the Bulldogs had a lot more hitting to do, as a pair of two-run home runs from Hugo and McGuire helped guide Georgia to a six-run inning, pulling ahead 10-1.

The nine-run lead wouldn’t suffice as Iosefa connected with another two-run home run for the Bulldogs, adding two more in the third inning to make it a 12-1 ballgame.

In the fourth inning, Austin Peay continued to fight back, as the visitors made it a 12-7 game after a couple of walks and a three-run home run from Danielle Liermann. The five-run lead would quickly expand after the Bulldogs loaded up the bases and Puailoa stepped up to the plate and connected with a grand slam.