[su_spacer size=”20″] With the game on the line, Alex Hugo answered the call, hitting a mammoth walk off home run that sealed a 6-5 win over North Carolina in an elimination game in the 2015 NCAA Athens Regional. With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 42-15 on the year, while UNC ends its season with an overall record of 37-16.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Brittany Gray got the start and threw 3.1 innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits. The Bulldogs turned to the talented right arm of Chelsea Wilkinson (27-9) in the fourth inning. She picked up her 27th win when she allowed two runs on five hits over the final 3.2 innings North Carolina’s Kaylee Carlson (18-10), suffered the loss. She allowed six hits in seven innings with five strikeouts.
[su_spacer size=”20″] [su_spacer size=”20″] Georgia took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. With two away, Hugo was intentionally walked. She came around to score one batter later when Tina Iosefa roped a double to right center.
[su_spacer size=”40″] In the bottom of the second, Maeve McGuire came up to the plate with two outs and nailed a line drive double to right field. Niaja Griffin added another double, scoring McGuire and giving the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.
[su_spacer size=”40″] North Carolina scored three in the top of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. UNC capitalized on a throwing error where they scored two runs. Pinch hitter Kati Causey followed with an RBI-single up the middle to gain the lead.
[su_spacer size=”40″] UNC’s Kristen Brown added another run with a solo homerun, giving the Tar Heels a 4-2 lead in the top of the fifth.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Bulldogs rallied back to make it a 5-4 ball game in the bottom of the fifth. After an intentional walk to Hugo loaded the bases, Iosefa was hit by a pitch, scoring McGuire to make it a 4-3 game. Anna Swafford then ripped one up the middle for a two-run single that gave the Bulldogs the lead.
[su_spacer size=”40″] North Carolina answered back with two outs in the bottom of the seventh with a homerun over left field from Jenna Kelly, tying the game 5-5.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Hugo didn’t waste any time in the bottom of the seventh, as she sent an 0-2 pitch over the scoreboard in left center that sealed Georgia’s 6-5 win.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia will face Western Kentucky for the NCAA Athens Regional title tomorrow, May 17, beginning at noon. The Bulldogs will need to defeat Western Kentucky twice to advance to the Super Regional round of the 2015 NCAA Championship.