[su_spacer size=”20″] The No. 14/14 Georgia softball concluded its regular season home schedule with a 15-6 win over Georgia State on Wednesday, April 22 at Jack Turner Stadium in Athens, Ga. This was Georgia’s 21st run-rule victory of the year. With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 35-13 on the year, while Georgia State falls to 30-18.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Chelsea Wilkinson got the complete-game victory to improve to 22-8 on the year. She allowed six runs on eight hits and struck out seven batters. Katie Worley dropped to 8-8 on the year. She allowed eight runs, five earned, on six hits and two walks in 3.1 innings of work. Taylor Thorpe threw the final inning, giving up seven runs, six earned, on six hits.
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[su_spacer size=”20″] Georgia wasted no time, taking a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Cortni Emanuel led things off with a single through the left side. She made her way to third after stealing second and a groundout. She gave the Bulldogs the lead when she scored on a wild pitch. With runners at first and second, Sydni Emanuel drove a pitch up the middle for a single. The centerfielder bobbled the ball, allowing Tina Iosefa, Anna Swafford and S. Emanuel to all scored and put Georgia up 4-0.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia State cut the lead to one in the top of the third with a three-run home run.
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[su_spacer size=”20″] The Bulldogs used a nine run fourth inning to put the game away at 13-3. After a throwing error put a runner on, Kaylee Puailoa took a 2-0 pitch over the right field wall for a two-run home run that extended Georgia’s lead to 6-3. Katie Browne and C. Emanuel followed with a double and a single. A groundout scored C. Emanuel and put Georgia up 7-3. After Alex Hugo drew a walk, Iosefa belted a three-run home run to left center that brought the score to 10-3. The Bulldogs tacked on three more runs on a RBI single by Samantha LaZear and a two-run single by Puailoa.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Panthers didn’t go away quietly, scoring three runs in the top of the fifth inning on a three-run home run that cut Georgia’s lead to 13-6.
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[su_spacer size=”20″] In the bottom of the fifth, C. Emanuel showed her patience at the plate to draw a walk. Hugo delivered the knock out blow with a two-run shot to center to seal the 15-6 win in walk off fashion.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Bulldogs look to carry the momentum into the weekend, April 24-26, as they wrap up the regular season when they travel to Lexington, Ky., to take on the Kentucky Wildcats. First pitch of the series is scheduled for 6 p.m., ET. The game will be available on the SEC Network+ and WatchESPN.
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