Behind a 12-strikeout outing from junior pitcher Kylie Bass, the 17th-ranked Georgia Bulldog softball team topped the Evansville Purple Aces 2-0 on Sunday at Jack Turner Stadium.
Bass (3-0) orchestrated a career weekend on the mound with two complete, scoreless performances, surrendering only three hits. After posting the first Bulldog no-hitter since 2016 on Friday night, the junior matched a career-high in strikeouts at the Sunday matinee.
With five wins in the Red & Black Showcase this weekend, the Bulldogs improve to 9-1 on the season. Six different Georgia pitchers allowed only two runs over 30 innings of play.
“I am really proud of our pitching and defense,” Georgia head coach Lu Harris-Champer said. “Kylie had an outstanding game with 12 strikeouts and getting a lot of balls off the handles. I just want our team to keep doing what we’re doing. We’re playing our game and that’s all I can ask for.”
Sophomore center fielder Ciara Bryan initiated the Bulldogs’ 3-hit second inning with a walk and a steal. With Bryan in scoring position, senior outfielder Kendall Burton knocked her first of two base hits up the middle for the 1-0 Georgia lead.
Sophomore Jordan Doggett followed, scoring Burton from second with a base hit and providing Georgia its only necessary lead of the game. Senior Cortni Emanuel also supplied a base hit and a steal in the two-run second inning, one of two on the day. The left fielder finished the weekend with a team-leading .529 clip at the plate with nine hits.
Up next, Georgia welcomes College of Charleston, East Tennessee State and Gardner Webb for the 15th Annual Georgia Classic on Feb. 23-25 at Jack Turner Stadium.
