Consistent hitting led No. 9 Georgia (31-7, 5-4) past No. 8 LSU (28-9, 5-7) by a score of 3-1 on Sunday at Jack Turner Stadium.
The Bulldogs recorded nine hits against the Tigers’ pitching staff, finding most of the success with slap hitters Sydni Emanuel, Cortni Emanuel and Samantha LaZear. S. Emanuel was a perfect 3-for-3 on the day while C. Emanuel also had three and LaZear finished with a hit and two runs.
Chelsea Wilkinson (17-2) threw a phenomenal game for the Bulldogs, striking out eight batters and only allowing two hits. The senior closed each of her six innings with a strikeout, as five of those frames stranded one or more LSU runner. Brittany Gray earned her fifth save of the season, throwing the final inning with no hits and one strikeout.
For LSU, Sydney Smith (7-2) was charged with the loss after giving up two runs and five hits. Carley Hoover relieved Smith and allowed one run and four hits in 4.1 innings.
Georgia struck first, as a triple by S. Emanuel scored Lacey Sumerlin and LaZear in the second inning after the pair reached on back-to-back two-out hits.
In the fourth inning, a fielding error by the Bulldogs brought a run home for the Tiger’s Taylor Lockwood, making the game to 2-1. Wilkinson struck out the next batter, leaving runners on second and third.
Back-to-back singles from the Emanuels in the sixth helped LaZear around the bases after a leadoff walk to seal the Bulldogs’ victory.
Georgia will host North Carolina on Wednesday to close out the nine-game homestand at 7:30 p.m. ET. Admission is free and the game can be watched nationally on SEC Network.