[su_spacer size=”20″] The No. 14/14 UGA softball team clinched the series over the No. 17/19 Kentucky Wildcats when it took a 6-4 victory on a chilly and wet Saturday, April 25 in Lexington, Ky. With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 38-13 on the year and 13-9 in Southeastern Conference play. Kentucky is now 29-19 overall and 5-15 in the SEC.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Brittany Gray (14-5) got the win after giving up three runs on four hits and three walks. She also struck out two. Chelsea Wilkinson came in and threw the final 1.2 innings, giving up one run on two hits and a walk. Meagan Prince (12-6) suffered the loss after 5.1 innings of work. She allowed five runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out six. Erin Rethlake threw the final 1.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits. She struck out three.
[su_spacer size=”40″] After getting runners aboard in four of the first five innings, Georgia was able to capitalize in the top of the fifth. Niaja Griffin opened the inning with single deep in the hole at short. Alex Hugo followed with a two-out single to shallow right. With two on and two away, Tina Iosefa delivered a two-run double to shallow center that scored Griffin and Hugo and put the Bulldogs up 2-0.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia tacked on four runs in the top of the sixth inning. Kaylee Puailoa led off the inning with a single up the middle. Paige Wilson followed with a fielder’s choice, but pinch runner Samantha LaZear beat the throw to second. With two on and one away, Griffin singled through the right side, allowing LaZear to score and extend Georgia’s lead to 3-0. With runners in scoring position, Sydni Emanuel came through with a RBI single to right that scored Wilson and made it a 4-0 Georgia lead. With two outs, Alex Hugo took a 1-2 pitch in between the fielder’s in right field for a single. The hit allowed both S. Emanuel and Griffin to score, giving Georgia a 6-0 lead.
[su_spacer size=”40″] UK avoided the shutout, scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth. The first run scored on a RBI-single by Nikki Sagermann. Maisie Steed made it a 6-4 game with a three-run home run to right. A strikeout and a diving grab by Anna Swafford ended the inning.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Kentucky threatened in the bottom of the seventh, putting two in scoring position with two outs. Wilkinson induced a groundout to end the inning and seal the 6-4 win.