KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Sixth-ranked Georgia softball evened its series at #7 Tennessee (31-5, 4-4) Sunday evening with a six-inning, 9-1 victory over the Lady Vols.

The Georgia (31-4, 8-3) offense rattled off its nine runs on nine hits, slugging two home runs and a double. Cortni Emanuel, Justice Milz, and Alysen Febrey each had a pair of hits. Milz drove in four runs while Mahlena O’Neal recorded a trio of RBI.

Kylie Bass (11-1) worked the complete game in the circle for the Bulldogs. She allowed five hits to the Lady Vols.

Tennessee’s Caylan Arnold pitched four and two-thirds total innings. She surrendered eight runs on all nine hits. Gabby Sprang pitched one and a third innings for Tennessee.

Emanuel jumpstarted the game with a single up the middle. She stole second and advanced to third on a bad throw down by the catcher. She touched home on a single up the middle off the bat of Milz. Following a flyout, Febrey doubled down the left field line to plate Milz and put the Bulldogs ahead 2-0 in the opening stanza.

Tennessee cut the lead in half with an RBI single by Aubrey Leach in the bottom of the second, 2-1.

With two out in the top of the third, Febrey’s second hit of the game was a single down the left field line. O’Neal stepped in and launched a two-run home run to straight-away centerfield, widening the lead to 4-1.

Jordan Doggett and Emanuel reached on two-out base hits in the fourth inning. Both came in to score on Milz’s eighth home run of the season to left field, extending the lead to six, 7-1.

Georgia found itself with bases loaded and one out in the top of the sixth. Febrey hit a grounder to first. The first baseman’s throw to the plate was errant, allowing Doggett to score. O’Neal looked at a bases-loaded ball four to push in the ninth run.

The Bulldogs and Lady Vols will square off in the rubber game Monday at 7 p.m. live on the SEC Network.

Head Coach Lu-Harris-Champer

On Kylie Bass’ performance in the circle… 

“I thought Kylie was outstanding. She used spin all night long. She changed speeds and direction to throw a killer change-up. She was just outstanding.”

On the hitters responding after being shutout…

“It was a great game last night; it is what it is. But I thought we were calm at the plate and we saw the ball well.”