[su_spacer size=”20″] The Georgia softball team dropped a 15-9 decision to the North Carolina Tar Heels on Wednesday, April 1 at Jack Turner Stadium in Athens, Ga. With the loss, the Bulldogs drop to 29-9 on the year, while North Carolina is now 25-9 on the year.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia used three pitchers in the game. Brittany Gray (11-4) got the start and allowed 10 runs, six earned, on 14 hits and two walks. Bekah Farris allowed four runs, two earned on one hit and two walks in 0.2 innings of work. Savannah McHellon threw the final two innings, allowing one run on three hits and walk. The staff combined for three strikeouts. Kaylee Carlson (12-4) got the win. She allowed nine runs, seven earned, on 10 hits and four walks in the complete-game performance.
[su_spacer size=”40″] North Carolina jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the fourth. A pair of singles, a passed ball and a fielder’s choice plated the first run of the inning. The Tar Heels took a 2-0 lead on a bases loaded wild pitch. A double to left center scored the next two runs and put UNC up 4-0 before a pop out ended the inning.
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[su_spacer size=”20″] The Bulldogs answered with seven runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 7-4 lead over the Tar Heels. A trio of singles by Tina Iosefa, Kaylee Puailoa and Sydni Emanuel loaded the bases with no outs. With the bases loaded, Katie Browne hit into a fielder’s choice, but the throw home sailed to the backstop, allowing two runs to score. Niaja Griffin drove in the third run of the inning when she roped a double off the wall in right. After Paige Wilson drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases, Anna Swafford took the payoff pitch high and deep over the pines in left field for a grand slam that gave the Bulldogs a 7-4 lead. It was her second grand slam of the season.
[su_spacer size=”40″] North Carolina responded with 10 runs over the next four innings to take a 14-7 lead. The Tar Heels put up three runs in the third, five in the fourth and one run in both the fifth and sixth innings.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Bulldogs ended the scoring drought in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring two runs to bring the score to 14-9. A pair of singles by Samantha LaZear and Alex Hugo put runners on for Wilson. With no outs and runners at second and third, Wilson singled to right center, allowing LaZear to score and cut the lead to 14-8. Georgia scratched another run across on a throwing error by the UNC third baseman.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Tar Heels made it a 15-9 game in the top of the seventh on a RBI double. Georgia put two runners on in the home half of the seventh, but wasunable to pull of the comeback.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia continues its home stand this weekend, April 3-5, when it welcomes No. 21/21 Missouri to Athens, Ga. The series is set to begin at 6 p.m., on Friday. All games will be available on the SEC Network+.
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