[su_spacer size=”20″] The No. 14/14 Georgia softball team earned its 18th shutout of the year with a 3-0 win over No. 17/19 Kentucky on Friday, April 24 at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Ky. With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 37-13 on the year and 12-9 in the Southeastern Conference. Kentucky is now 29-18 overall and 5-14 in league play.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Chelsea Wilkinson (23-8) threw her seventh solo shutout and 21st complete-game of the year to get the win. She gave up three hits and struck out six batters. Kelsey Nunley (12-12) suffered the loss. She allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks. She also struck out four.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia opened up to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Anna Swafford led off with a walk, which followed by a base hit off the bat of Sydni Emanuel. With one away, Kaylee Puailoa took the first pitch she saw deep over the right field wall for her fourth home run of the year.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Bulldogs threatened in the fourth, putting runners at the corners. For the third time in four innings, the leadoff runner got aboard when S. Emanuel delivered a single up the middle. With one away, Puailoa battled through a 10-pitch at bat before singling down the right field line. The next two batters were retired in order, leaving two runners stranded.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Kentucky got its first hit of the day in the bottom of the fourth on a single by Sylver Samuel. She stole second and then tried for third, but was thrown out on a 2-5-4 put out. Wilkinson struck out the final batter to preserve Georgia’s 3-0 lead.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Wilkinson continued to keep the Wildcat bats at bay, retiring the side in the bottom of the seventh, including inducing a 5-3 double play that sealed the 3-0 win for Georgia.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia and Kentucky are scheduled to play the second game of the series today at 3 p.m.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Photo Credit: Sean Taylor/Georgia Sports Communications