The eighth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs softball team defeated Presbyterian, 7-1, in its first midweek game of the season at Jack Turner Stadium Wednesday evening.

Despite a slow start, the Georgia (15-1) offense continued its impressive showing and led Georgia to its eleventh-straight win. Juniors Mahlena O’Neal and Alysen Febrey accounted for four runs total, recording two RBI apiece. Senior Alyssa DiCarlo and freshmen Savana Sikes and Lacey Fincher each added an RBI. In total, the Bulldogs scored seven runs on eight hits. 

“It’s just another opportunity to keep working on playing winning softball,” associate head coach Tony Baldwin said following the game. “That’s our goal to get better at winning games in a lot of different ways. I thought their pitcher gave us a little bit of trouble and I would like to see us make that adjustment a little bit quicker but finally we did and I am proud of the girls for adjusting.

“I thought the girls were hitting for the team, I think that is something we talk a lot about. Then again, it’s just getting into a competitive mindset that they are in there to get after it and do what needs to be done in that moment. I’m proud of the girls for getting to that place later in the game.”

Sophomore Lauren Mathis (4-0) started in the circle for the Bulldogs. In her five innings pitched, she recorded five strikeouts, only allowed two hits and gave up no earned runs. Junior Mary Wilson Avant also saw time in the circle for Georgia, pitching two innings, recording three strikeouts and allowing only one hit. 

Two Bulldog errors allowed Presbyterian to take an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Fincher drove in Georgia’s first run with an RBI double, tying it 1-1 in the bottom half of the inning.

It was Fincher again that ignited the Georgia offense in the bottom of the fourth with a single. Up next, Febrey hit a stand-up double to left field, scoring Fincher and giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the game, 2-1. 

The bottom of the fifth highlighted Georgia’s offensive performance, accounting for five of Georgia’s seven runs. Junior Jordan Doggett jumpstarted the fifth inning rally with her speed earning a single before advancing to third on a base hit from junior Justice Milz. Doggett scored Georgia’s third run on an RBI sac-fly from Sikes. DiCarlo continued the offensive performance with an RBI, plating Milz and extending Georgia’s lead, 4-1. Febrey followed, recording her second RBI on the night, scoring Fincher for the 5-1 Georgia lead. Junior Mahlena O’Neal capped the scoring spree for Georgia with a two-run double and the 7-1 Bulldogs advantage heading into the sixth. 

Quiet sixth and seventh innings, thanks to impressive pitching from Avant, clinched the 7-1 win for Georgia. 

Georgia returns to action this Friday, Mar. 1, at 6 p.m. against Virginia Tech in the first game of the Bulldog Classic at Jack Turner Stadium.