University of Georgia
#1/3 Arizona
Montemayor, #1 Georgia Shutout Arizona, 8-0
February 27, 2011 | Softball
Feb. 27, 2011
Box Score | Georgia-Arizona Box Score (PDF) 
Saturday night's game pitted collegiate softball's two No. 1-ranked schools with Georgia coming out on top as Montemayor (6-1) led the Bulldogs to victory by allowing just three hits and two walks while tying her career-high with eight strikeouts. It marked the first time Georgia has ever defeated Arizona with the Wildcats winning the three previous meetings.
Georgia (14-1), who currently holds the top spot in the USA Today/NFCA poll, supported Montemayor from the plate with eight runs on 12 hits as senior Megan Wiggins (2-for-4) and juniors Ashley Razey (2-for-3) and Brittney Hubbard (2-for-3) each contributed two RBI.
Arizona (11-2), who is the top-ranked team in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, relieved starting pitcher Kenzie Fowler (9-1) after she allowed three runs in just one inning of work. Prior to Saturday, Fowler had allowed just four earned runs in 52.2 innings pitched this season.
Both teams hold a No. 3 ranking in the respective poll in which they are not ranked No. 1.
After Montemayor escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the first, the Bulldogs responded three runs of support in the bottom of the inning. Senior Taylor Schlopy led off the inning reaching base on a hit-by-pitch, the 43rd of her career establishing a new UGA record. Two groundouts then moved Schlopy around to third setting up an RBI single to left from senior Brianna Hesson. Next, Razey crushed a two-run home run to left field that cleared the 200-foot softball fence and one-hopped the approx. 315 foot Wrigley Field replica fence hitting the bricks just above the ivy.
The Wildcats brought Shelby Babcock into the circle in relief in the second inning, and in the third, the Bulldogs began adding to their lead on a run-scoring single to left from Hubbard.
In the fourth, the Bulldogs extended their advantage to 6-0. With junior Ashley Pauly on third base in part to a single and a Wildcat error, Wiggins provided an RBI single on a line drive up the middle to center. After Wiggins stole second, senior Alisa Goler came through with a run producing hit to left.
The contest reached the run-rule in the fifth with two more Georgia runs. Junior Kristyn Sandberg doubled to left center to start the inning, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a one-out single up the middle from Hubbard. Two batters later, Wiggins ended the game on the mercy rule with an RBI double to right.
Up next, Georgia returns to the friendly confines of Jack Turner Stadium, March 4-6, as it plays host to the 2011 Bulldog Invitational. Visiting teams for the tournament include Campbell, Chattanooga, Indiana and James Madison.
