Georgia softball hosted game one of its final home series Friday night against Alabama. The Bulldogs won the game 5-3 in front of a 1,263 crowd. Georgia secured its 30th home win and improved to 41-7 on the season.
The Bulldogs win gave the team the most wins since 2014. This game marked the beginning of the seventh SEC series for Georgia and the sixth time they took home game one. It registered as the first win against Alabama in Athens since 2005.
Mary Wilson Avant got the start from the circle Friday night. She’s the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Week and pitched her sixth complete game of the season. Avant allowed six hits, struck out three and yielded two earned runs.
Both Georgia and Alabama had six hits during the game. Half of the Bulldogs hits came from Cortni Emanuel as she went 3-for-3 in the game. Emanuel put herself in sole possession of second place in Georgia’s all-time career hit list with 314.
The Bulldogs offense charge began in the bottom of the third inning. Georgia capitalized on two Alabama errors in one play that scored Alysen Febrey and Alyssa DiCarlo. The two reached on a walk and a single. Shortly after, Jessica Morgan hit a home run to left field that scored Ciara Bryan. These two runs gave Georgia a 4-0 edge after three.
Alabama answered in the top of the fourth as Carrigan Fain singled up the middle to score Sydney Booker. This hit made the score 4-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, Emanuel singled to right center for here 313th career hit. She tied Kim Wendland for second all-time career hits by a Bulldog with that hit. She preceded to steal second and advanced to third on the catcher’s errant throw. Next, Emanuel scored off a wild pitch to extend Georgia’s lead to 5-1 in the bottom frame of the fourth.
Alabama responded with a two-run home run from Booker in the top of the fifth to bring the score to 5-3. Avant and the defense held through the final two innings to get the win in game one.
Georgia and the Crimson Tide play game two on Saturday, April 28 for Georgia’s Senior Night. The game is set to start at 6 p.m. at Jack Turner Stadium.