The 16th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs shut out in-state rival Georgia Tech, 7-0, on Wednesday evening at Jack Turner Stadium.
This win extends Georgia’s win streak over Georgia Tech to 12 and completes the Bulldogs’ sweep over the Yellow Jackets this season.
The win was also the 1,100th in the career of head coach Lu Harris-Champer, who is in her 23rd season as a head coach. In that span, she has amassed a record of 891-335 at the University of Georgia.
A balanced effort at the plate and in the circle helped to secure the win for Georgia (31-14). Junior Mary Wilson Avant (9-4) pitched the entire game for the Bulldogs, shutting out the Yellow Jackets, allowing only one hit while tallying five strikeouts.
Offensively, the bottom of the fourth solidified the win for the Bulldogs scoring six of Georgia’s seven total runs. Junior Ciara Bryan shined at the plate, going three for four, recording her first career grand slam and two singles. Multiple Bulldogs chipped in for the explosive offensive performance, including a two-hit performance from junior Justice Milz and one RBI apiece from senior Alyssa DiCarlo, junior Mahlena O’Neal and sophomore Tyler Armistead. In total, the Bulldogs plated seven runs on nine hits.
“Obviously, Ciara, taking the pressure off, getting in there and hitting that ball, just really doing what we worked on in pregame and to let it happen in the game, I was really proud of her,” said Harris-Champer. “The offense as a whole had a really good game, but I thought Mary was just lights out. She was so good in the circle and then the defense, especially the outfield was outstanding as well.”
The first three innings of play were highlighted by three-straight three-up, three-down performances by the Bulldogs in the field. At the plate, Georgia jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, after Bryan led off with a single and scored on a sacrifice fly from DiCarlo.
Despite Bryan recording another single with two outs in the bottom of the third, the Bulldogs were unable to capitalize, the score remaining 1-0 heading into the fourth.
A walk from Avant in the top of the fourth allowed the Yellow Jackets to reach base for the first time all game, though they remained scoreless through four inningMary Wilson Avants.
The Georgia offense had an explosive fourth inning, plating five runs and batting around. The offensive dominance was highlighted by Bryan’s two-out grand slam, the first of her career. DiCarlo sparked the inning with a single before scoring on a base hit from O’Neal, to extend Georgia’s lead to two. Two walks and O’Neal’s single loaded the bases for Armistead, who scored Fincher on a single, plating Georgia’s third run. Bases juiced once again, Bryan hit a shot over the right field wall to record Georgia’s fifth grand slam of the season and give Georgia the 7-0 lead. The impressive offensive performance continued with back-to-back singles from Milz and DiCarlo.
Georgia Tech reached base for only the second time this evening on a one-out double in the top of the fifth. Avant was able to escape the inning, leaving the Yellow Jackets scoreless through five innings of play.
Both teams remained scoreless through the last two innings, securing the 7-0 victory for Georgia.
The Bulldogs return to action this Friday, Apr. 19 at 6 p.m. against Tennessee at Jack Turner Stadium.