OXFORD, Miss. – In Sunday’s regular-season finale, #5 Georgia softball defeated Ole Miss, 5-1. The win secures the #2 seed in next week’s Southeastern Conference Softball Tournament.
 
 
The Bulldogs finish the regular season 43-10 overall and 16-8 in SEC play.
 
 
It will be the second time the Bulldogs will carry the #2 seed in the tournament and the first since 2006. Georgia went 1-1 that season as the second seed. With a first-round bye, the Bulldogs will open tournament play Thursday in the second round.
 
 

 
 
Georgia scattered 12 hits in Sunday’s contest. Ciara Bryan tied a career best with three hits. For the third time in the series, Justice Milz finished with a two-hit game. Alyssa DiCarlo also had two hits.
 
 
Mary Wilson Avant (9-2) pitched five innings in her start in the circle. She surrendered the lone run on just four hits. She struck out seven Rebels and walked only one. Lauren Mathis closed the game, pitching the final two scoreless innings, allowing just a hit.
 
 
Georgia rattled the bats for three runs on five hits in the top of the third. With two out, Ciara Bryan and Justice Milz picked up back-to-back hits. Bryan scored on a bloop single to left by Alyssa DiCarlo. Febrey singled to left for the fourth-straight hit, on the play, the left fielder bobbled the ball, allowing DiCarlo to score. Jordan Doggett drew a walk to load the bases. Mahlena O’Neal singled to center to drive in DiCarlo and bolster the lead, 3-0.
 
 
Ole Miss’ Kylan Becker hit an RBI double to left center to put the Rebels on the board in the bottom of the inning, 3-1.
 
 
With one on and two out, Bryan grounded her third hit of the game up the middle to plate Kaylie Harding to bring the lead back to three. Bryan touched home on a double ripped down the left field line, widening the lead to 5-1 in the fourth.
 
 
Avant and Mathis hushed the Ole Miss offense the final four innings to secure the win for Georgia.