[su_spacer size=”20″] Alex Hugo hit her first grand slam as a Bulldog to lead the No. 8/8 Georgia softball team top a 14-0, five-inning shutout over in-state rival Georgia Tech on Wednesday, March 18 at Mewborn Field in Atlanta, Ga. With the win, Georgia improved to 25-5 on the season, while Georgia Tech dropped to 11-16 on the year. The win marked the fifth-straight win over the Yellow Jackets. Georgia has outscored Georgia Tech 72-10 during its current five-game win streak, including 43-2 in the three games that have been played in Atlanta.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Chelsea Wilkinson picked up her 14th win of the season to improve to 14-3 on the year. She did not allow a hit and faced just one batter of the minimum, while striking out four in four innings of work. Brittany Gray closed out the game, throwing the final inning and striking out two. The duo combined to throw Georgia’s fifth no hitter of the year, the most no hitters in a single season since 2004.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Kylie Kleinschmidt suffered the loss to fall to 3-10 on the year. She allowed six runs, four earned, on four hits, a walk and a hit batter in two innings of work. Christina Biggerstaff and Emily Anderson combined to throw the final three innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits.
[su_spacer size=”40″] In addition to Hugo’s grand slam, she also hit a solo home run, marking the first time in her Georgia career that she has hit two home runs in a game. Hugo finished 2-for-4 with three runs and eight RBI. Sydni Emanuel went 3-for-3 with four runs scored, one RBI and was hit by a pitch. Tina Iosefa had a 2-for-3 day with three RBI.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Emanuel was hit by a pitch and then stole second to lead off the inning. With a runner in scoring position, Hugo took advantage of a fielding error that allowed Emanuel to score the first run of the game. Iosefa followed with a RBI-single to left that scored Hugo and made it a 2-0 game.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The scoring continued in the top of the second inning, resulting in a 6-0 Georgia lead. Katie Browne led off the frame with a walk and moved to third on sacrifice bunt and a fielder’s choice. Pinch runner Adele Harrison scored the first run of the inning on a RBI single by Emanuel. Two batters later and with two on, Hugo delivered her 10th home run of the season with a shot to straightaway center field that put the Bulldogs up 6-0.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth inning. After a pair of one-out singles by Emanuel and Paige Wilson, Iosefa smoked a single up the middle that scored both runners and gave the Bulldogs an 8-0 lead.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Bulldogs scored six runs on five hits in the fifth inning that resulted in a 14-0 lead. With Katie Browne at first after a walk, Maeve McGuire entered the game and delivered a pinch-hit double to left center that sent Browne home for the first run of the inning. A walk and a single loaded the bases for Hugo, who sent the 3-2 pitch over the wall in center for a grand slam that made it a 13-0 game. A RBI single by Anna Swafford added one more run for the Bulldogs.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Following Wilkinson’s masterful performance, where she set down eight-straight batters, Gray came in to close things out. She faced four batters, striking out two to seal the 14-0 shutout.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia returns to action this weekend, March 20-22, when it hosts Arkansas in a three-game Southeastern Conference series. The series is set to begin at 6 p.m., on Friday.