University of Georgia
Florida
Georgia Drops Game One of Doubleheader
April 18, 2015 | Softball
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ATHENS, Ga. -- No. 11/12 Georgia dropped an 8-4 decision to the No. 2/1 Florida Gators in the first game of a softball doubleheader on April 18 at Jack Turner Stadium in Athens, Ga. With the loss, Georgia falls to 35-12 on the year and 11-8 in Southeastern Conference play. Florida improves to 42-4 overall and 12-4 in the SEC.
Gray suffered the loss to fall to 13-5 on the year. She allowed eight runs on 10 hits and a walk. She also struck out eight. Lauren Haeger improved to 20-0 on the year. She allowed four run on nine hits and walk. She struck out six batters.
The Gators put their first three batters on to load the bases with no outs. Lauren Haeger then delivered a grand slam to put Florida up 4-0. Gray gave up a walk before retiring the next three batters in order to end the inning.
It didn't take long for Georgia to respond, putting up three runs in the bottom of the first to cut the lead to 4-3. Sydni Emanuel got things started with a one-out double to the wall in left center. A walk to Alex Hugo put two on for Tina Iosefa, who delivered her fifth home run of the year with a three-run shot off of the scoreboard in left field that cut the lead to one. Anna Swafford legged out a single deep in the hole at short, but was left stranded as a groundout ended the inning.
After a scoreless second inning, Georgia tied the game at 4-4 on a solo home run to straightaway center by Hugo. It was her 16th homer of the year.
Georgia had its chance in the bottom of the sixth when Kaylee Puailoa picked up a two-out single. A groundout ended the inning
With the score knotted at 4-4 going to the seventh, Florida put together an inning reminiscent of the first. The Gators put their first three batters aboard before Nicole DeWitt hit the second grand slam of the game. The home run gave Florida an 8-4 lead.
Georgia was unable to plate another run in the seventh resulting in a final score of 8-4.
The Bulldogs and Gators will play the second game of the doubleheader at 4 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
Prior to the game, Georgia's four seniors, Niaja Griffin, Adele Harrison, Anna Swafford and Paige Wilson, were honored. The senior class helped Georgia to its first-ever SEC Tournament title in 2014 and led the Bulldogs to three-straight NCAA Regional appearances and two NCAA Super Regionals.
Senior Profiles:
Griffin has been a mainstay on the field since arriving her freshman year. She has started 159 games in her career and is responsible for 123 runs scored and 45 RBI. Known for her speed and athleticism, she has stolen 60 bases in her career and is a perfect 11-for-11 this season. She has seen her offensive production flourish in her senior season. This year, she is hitting .349 with seven doubles, two triples and two home runs, including the eventual game winner the clinched the series at Ole Miss. A three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll honoree, a member of the LEAD and a member of the 2014 SEC Community Service Team, she is a role model to many and was named a 2015 Peach of an Athlete Finalist.
After transferring to Georgia from Middle Georgia College where she was a two-time all-conference selection, an Academic All-American and an all-conference selection, Harrison has been instrumental in Georgia's success on the base paths. In her first year as a Bulldog, she scored 22 runs, including two in Georgia's 2013 SEC Tournament title run. This season, she recorded a career-best two hits against Savannah State that included a double and a RBI. She was also named to the 2014 SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Swafford has been a constant in the Georgia lineup since she stepped foot on campus. She has made 206 starts for the Bulldogs and has appeared in 221 games. With her reliable bat in the lineup, she owns a .298 career batting average and has hit over .300 in the last three seasons. She has recorded double-digit home runs in each of the past three years and is responsible for 162 hits, 21 doubles, 10 triples and 39 home runs. She led the team in stolen bases in two of her three seasons, going 70-for-80 on the base paths. She also owns the school record in hit by pitches at 60. This season, she is second on the team with 12 home runs, including two grand slams. She ranks in the top-10 in several Georgia career categories including fifth in runs scored, seventh in triples, seventh in on-base percentage and fifth in stolen bases. She was also a 2014 NFCA All-Region selection and a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection.
Wilson has started 234 games since arriving her freshman year. Known for stout bat, she owns a .386 career batting average and has hit over .400 for a season twice in her career, including a .415 mark this year. During her career at Georgia, she has scored 185 runs. She has collected 288 hits, including 51 doubles, nine triples and 37 home runs, while driving in 215 RBI. She has hit double-digit home runs in two of her four seasons. This season she has been the toughest Bulldog to strike out, as she has struck out just four times in 142 at bats. Her name is littered throughout the career record books at Georgia, ranking fourth in runs scored, fourth in doubles, eighth in triples, 10th in home runs, third in RBIs, fifth in total bases, sixth in slugging percentage and seventh in on-base percentage.
A 2013 Easton All-American, a three-time NFCA All-Region selection, a two-time first-team All-SEC selection, a 2012 Freshman All-SEC selection, a three-time SEC All-Tournament selection, four-time SEC Freshman of the Week and a one-time SEC Player of the Week
