University of Georgia
Georgia Southern
No. 3 UGA Defeats GSU, 4-1
April 20, 2011 | Softball
April 20, 2011
ATHENS, Ga. --- The third-ranked Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Georgia Southern Eagles, 4-1, on Wednesday evening at Jack Turner Softball Stadium.
With the win, Georgia improved to 40-6 overall and it marks the fastest the Bulldogs have ever reached 40 wins by doing so in just 46 games. Georgia has won at least 40 games every year since 2002, and the fastest the Bulldogs had previously reached the 40 win mark was in 2003 when they did so in game number 47.
Georgia Southern (25-24) scored its only run, unearned, in the first inning off of freshman starter Morgan Montemayor. Maria Fogle drew a leadoff walk and moved around to third when Mackenzie Williams reached on a two-out error that set up an RBI single from Kayla Brooks.
The Eagles clung to the 1-0 lead until the third inning when the Bulldogs plated their first two runs to go ahead. Junior Brittney Hubbard recorded UGA's first hit of the game on a bunt single to lead off the inning. After Hubbard stole second, senior Laura Trout reached on a wild pitch on strike three as Hubbard move up to third. Trout then stole second as well and both runners scored on a two-out single down the left field line from senior Alisa Goler.
Those two runs would be all the support sophomore reliever Alison Owen would need. Owen relieved Montemayor to start the fourth and went the rest of the way allowing just three hits and no walks while striking out six to improve to 14-2.
Nevertheless, Owen received two insurance runs from the Bulldogs in the sixth. With runners on the corners, freshman designated player Julia Echols provided an RBI single up the middle. Next, junior Kristyn Sandberg reached on an Eagle fielding error that allowed sophomore pinch runner Macie Couey to come around to score.
In the seventh, the Eagles threatened to score but came away empty handed. Brooks and Andrea Tarashuk recorded back-to-back singles to start the inning. A third-straight single in the frame by Kelly Burnett went off the wall in left, but junior Megan Wiggins returned the ball to the infield quickly where senior Alisa Goler relayed the throw to the plate for an out. Owen then finished off the Eagles with a strikeout and a groundout.
Eagle starting pitcher Brianna Streetmon worked a complete game but suffered the loss to fall to 10-10.
Up next, Georgia (14-5 SEC) travels to Fayetteville, Ark., for a three-game Southeastern Conference series with Arkansas (11-35, 2-20 SEC) starting on Friday at 8 p.m. ET. Live stats and audio will be available through www.georgiadogs.com.
