[su_spacer size=”20″] The No. 8/8 Georgia softball team dropped a 4-2 decision to the fifth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in the rubber game on Sunday, March 15 at a sun-drenched Jack Turner Stadium in Athens, Ga. With the loss, Georgia falls to 24-5 on the year that includes a 3-3 mark in Southeastern Conference play, while Alabama improves to 20-5 overall and 5-1 in the SEC.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Brittany Gray (10-1) suffered her first loss of the season. She allowed two runs, neither of which were earned, on three hits in 4.2 innings of work. Chelsea Wilkinson got the start for the Bulldogs, but did not factor into the decision. She went 2.1 innings, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk. Alexis Osorio (8-2) earned the complete-game win. She allowed two runs on five hits and five walks. She also struck out six. Leslie Jury earned her second save of the year. She did not give up a hit, but walked one and struck out two.
[su_spacer size=”20″]

[su_spacer size=”20″] Paige Wilson and Alex Hugo each recorded a hit and a RBI for Georgia. Hugo’s hit, run and RBI came on her ninth home run of the year.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Alabama struck first, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. After a single, a hit batter and an intentional walk loaded the bases, Demi Turner singled to right field, driving in the first run of the inning. A walk to Jadyn Spencer with the bases loaded allowed the second run to score. Georgia recorded the next two outs in order on a fielder’s choice and a groundout.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Hugo cut Alabama’s lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning with a leadoff home run that sailed over the trees in left field.
[su_spacer size=”20″] [foogallery id=”53242″] [su_spacer size=”20″] Gray kept the Alabama offense in check over the next two innings, allowing Georgia to tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Katie Browne drew a walk to lead off the inning. Gray sacrificed herself to move pinch runner Niaja Griffin into scoring position. Sydni Emanuel laid down a bunt single and used her speed to safely reach first. With runners at the corners, Wilson stepped to the plate and delivered a single to center, allowing Griffin to score the tying run. Hugo was intentionally walked to load the bases, but a strikeout ended the inning before another run could score.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Alabama answered with two runs in the top of the sixth inning, allowing it to retake the lead at 4-2. After an error put a runner at first, Kallie Case hit a home run to right field that gave the Crimson Tide the lead.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Down to their last three outs, the Bulldogs got the leadoff runner aboard when Gray looked at four-straight pitches for a walk. Cortni Emanuel followed with her first hit of the day when she singled up the middle and into shallow center, putting two on with no outs. A one-out groundout moved both runners into scoring position, for Hugo, who was intentionally walked for the second time, becoming the first player since 2012 to draw two intentional walks in a game. Down to the last out, Jury was able to strike the final batter out to preserve Alabama’s 4-2 win.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Bulldogs return to action on Wednesday, March 18, when it steps out of conference play and travels to Atlanta, Ga., for a game against in-state rival Georgia Tech. The game is set for 7 p.m. Georgia will be back in action at home next weekend, March 20-22, in a three-game SEC series against Arkansas. The first pitch of the series will be at 6 p.m., on Friday.