University of Georgia Athletics
Saturday, April 28
Athens, Ga.
6 PM
University of Georgia
42-7, 0
4
vs
3
Alabama
28-17, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Alabama
0
2
0
1
0
0
0
3
5
3
Georgia
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
4
7
2
Photo by: Steffenie Burns
No. 6 Georgia Comes from Behind to Clinch Series Against No. 17 Alabama, 4-3
April 28, 2018 | Softball
ATHENS, Ga. —Two go-ahead runs in the seventh inning lifted the No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs softball team to a 4-3 win over No. 17 Alabama Saturday evening in front of a capacity crowd at Jack Turner Stadium for Senior Day.
The win marked the fifth game Georgia has come back to win after trailing after six innings this season. With the series-clinching victory, Georgia remains the only team in the Southeastern Conference to win all seven league series. This also marked the first series win against the Tide since 2005.
Georgia outhit Alabama 7-5. Seniors Cortni Emanuel and Kendall Burton each had two-hit games for the Bulldogs. The two, along with Brittany Gray, were honored prior to the game as part of Senior Day. Brittany Gray threw an honorary first pitch left-handed, caught by her father Tim.
In the circle for Georgia (42-7, 15-5), Kylie Bass (13-2) relieved sophomore Amanda Ablan with the bases loaded and two outs in the second inning. The junior, who earned the win, allowed just four hits and struck out three to finish the game.
Alabama (28-17) struck first on offense. In the top of the second inning, Elissa Brown singled up the middle to score Reagan Dykes. Shortly after, Ablan walked Kaylee Tow with the bases loaded to score Carrigan Fain, giving the Tide a 2-0 edge.
In the top of the third inning Alabama's Demi Turner singled to first base. Brown scored on a Georgia fielding error, extending the Alabama lead to 3-0, but Bass and the defense held the Tide through the next four innings.
The Bulldogs' offense produced in the fifth, led off by Emanuel, who reached first on an Alabama fielding error, scoring Burton. It was followed by a sacrifice fly from Justice Milz, scoring pinchrunner Tyler Armistead to close Georgia's gap to 3-2.
Down a run in the bottom of the seventh, the Bulldogs plated two to secure the victory. Back-to-back hits from Emanuel and Milz began the charge. With bases loaded Alysen Febrey advanced to first off a hit-by-pitch and scored Emanuel, tying the game 3-3. With the bases loaded once again, Mahlena O'Neal singled to right field, driving in pinch runner Kaylie Harding and putting the Bulldogs ahead, 4-3, walking it off the Tide.
Georgia looks for the series sweep Sunday, April 28. The last home game of the season is slated for 2 p.m. at Jack Turner Stadium. Admission is free.
Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer
On approach for a comeback victory...
"I think it's just kids. It's the mindset and determination. We talk about being resilient, and to keep on fighting. The biggest key is to relax a little bit, loosen up, and know that something good is going to come your way."
On Brittany Gray throwing out the ceremonial first pitch...
"That's awesome, she threw a strike...go figure. So impressive."
Senior Cortni Emanuel
On the game overall…
"Obviously it went awesome. I am so proud of my team and proud the rest of the seniors for going out there and making it happen."
On what changed throughout the game…
"The whole game there was a vibe we were going to get it done, whether it was in the first or the seventh. … The hits just started to fall and we started making the productive at-bats count."
On her hit in the seventh…
"It was awesome. It is Senior night. What better way to win than tie the game on a hit?"
The win marked the fifth game Georgia has come back to win after trailing after six innings this season. With the series-clinching victory, Georgia remains the only team in the Southeastern Conference to win all seven league series. This also marked the first series win against the Tide since 2005.
Georgia outhit Alabama 7-5. Seniors Cortni Emanuel and Kendall Burton each had two-hit games for the Bulldogs. The two, along with Brittany Gray, were honored prior to the game as part of Senior Day. Brittany Gray threw an honorary first pitch left-handed, caught by her father Tim.
In the circle for Georgia (42-7, 15-5), Kylie Bass (13-2) relieved sophomore Amanda Ablan with the bases loaded and two outs in the second inning. The junior, who earned the win, allowed just four hits and struck out three to finish the game.
Alabama (28-17) struck first on offense. In the top of the second inning, Elissa Brown singled up the middle to score Reagan Dykes. Shortly after, Ablan walked Kaylee Tow with the bases loaded to score Carrigan Fain, giving the Tide a 2-0 edge.
In the top of the third inning Alabama's Demi Turner singled to first base. Brown scored on a Georgia fielding error, extending the Alabama lead to 3-0, but Bass and the defense held the Tide through the next four innings.
The Bulldogs' offense produced in the fifth, led off by Emanuel, who reached first on an Alabama fielding error, scoring Burton. It was followed by a sacrifice fly from Justice Milz, scoring pinchrunner Tyler Armistead to close Georgia's gap to 3-2.
Down a run in the bottom of the seventh, the Bulldogs plated two to secure the victory. Back-to-back hits from Emanuel and Milz began the charge. With bases loaded Alysen Febrey advanced to first off a hit-by-pitch and scored Emanuel, tying the game 3-3. With the bases loaded once again, Mahlena O'Neal singled to right field, driving in pinch runner Kaylie Harding and putting the Bulldogs ahead, 4-3, walking it off the Tide.
Georgia looks for the series sweep Sunday, April 28. The last home game of the season is slated for 2 p.m. at Jack Turner Stadium. Admission is free.
Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer
On approach for a comeback victory...
"I think it's just kids. It's the mindset and determination. We talk about being resilient, and to keep on fighting. The biggest key is to relax a little bit, loosen up, and know that something good is going to come your way."
On Brittany Gray throwing out the ceremonial first pitch...
"That's awesome, she threw a strike...go figure. So impressive."
Senior Cortni Emanuel
On the game overall…
"Obviously it went awesome. I am so proud of my team and proud the rest of the seniors for going out there and making it happen."
On what changed throughout the game…
"The whole game there was a vibe we were going to get it done, whether it was in the first or the seventh. … The hits just started to fall and we started making the productive at-bats count."
On her hit in the seventh…
"It was awesome. It is Senior night. What better way to win than tie the game on a hit?"
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bass, Kylie (13-2)
L: Courtney Gettins (11-4)
Batting:
RBI: Elissa Brown 1 ; Demi Turner 1 ; Kaylee Tow 1
SH: Merris Schroder 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Elissa Brown 1 ; Reagan Dykes 1 ; Carrigan Fain 1
SB: Elissa Brown 2 ; Demi Turner 1
Batting:
RBI: Emanuel, Cortni 1 ; Milz, Justice 1 ; Febrey, Alysen 1 ; O'Neal, Mahlena 1
SH: Doggett, Jordan 1
SF: Milz, Justice 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Emanuel, Cortni 1 ; Harding, Kaylie 1 ; Burton, Kendall 1 ; Armistead, Tyler 1
SB: Emanuel, Cortni 1 ; DiCarlo, Alyssa 1
HBP: Febrey, Alysen 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
IF/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C/OF
/ SoftballIF
/ SoftballC
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