KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the second game in a row, sixth-ranked Georgia softball (32-4, 9-3) run-ruled #7 Tennessee (31-6, 4-5) in six innings by a score of 8-0.
The win secured Georgia’s fourth Southeastern Conference series victory. It is the first series win over Tennessee since 2010, also in Knoxville. It was Georgia’s first shutout of the Lady Vols since the 2012 Super Regional in Knoxville.
It was the first time Tennessee has been run-ruled in back-to-back games at home ever in the program’s history. The last time Tennessee was run-ruled in back-to-back games was at Alabama in 2008.
The offense scored eight runs on nine hits. Justice Milz and Alyssa DiCarlo and each had two hits with three RBI. Milz knocked two home runs, her second multi-home run game of her sophomore season. Cortni Emanuel also had two hits, both doubles.
Mary Wilson Avant earned her first win of the season in her first complete game and first solo shutout. She worked six innings, allowing only four hits, striking out four Lady Vols.
Emanuel led off the game with a double laced to the wall in left center. She came around to score on a base hit to center by DiCarlo, putting Georgia ahead 1-0 in the top of the first.
Three runs touched home in the top of the second to capture a 4-0 lead on the Lady Vols. Kendall Burton led off with a bunt for a hit. She was bunted over and advanced on a groundout. Emanuel ripped her second double of the game off the wall in left, scoring Burton. Following a walk to Milz, DiCarlo doubled to left, plating both runs and widening the lead to 4-0.
A sacrifice fly off the bat of Kaylie Harding scored pinch runner Tiffani Railey in the top of the third, extending the lead to 5-0.
Milz homered for the second game in a row in the top of the fourth, a solo shot to right to make it 6-0 in favor of the Bulldogs. MIlz’s second home run of the night was a two-run blast in the top of the sixth to bring the lead to eight.
Avant worked a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the sixth to secure the shutout victory.
Georgia wraps up its stretch of seven of eight games on the road Wednesday at in-state rival Georgia Tech. Wednesday’s midweek matchup will stream on the ACC Network Extra. First pitch will be at 7 p.m.
Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer
On Justice Milz’s performance at the plate Monday…
“I am just so proud of her. She’s a true blue kid and works her tail off and she wants to work for our team. She is so selfless and I’m so proud and excited for her. She’s seeing the ball so well.”
On Ciara Bryan’s plus defense on the weekend…
“Ciara has been playing some outstanding defense but that catch in [the fifth inning] where she came in and dove for that ball and got it to [Justice] then she got the girl at first, that’s a game changer right there. You have to play great defense to win big games.”