University of Georgia
Northwestern
Iosefa, Sumerlin Power UGA Past Northwestern
May 21, 2016 | Softball
The Georgia softball team powered past Northwestern 5-2 in the Athens Regional of the NCAA Tournament.
More Video: Post Game Press Conference
May 21, 2016
ATHENS, Ga. -- Senior Tina Iosefa and freshman Lacey Sumerlin each homered and recorded two RBI to lead 16th-seeded Georgia (42-17) to a 5-2 win over Northwestern (27-27) on Saturday afternoon at Jack Turner Stadium.
With two RBI in the contest, Iosefa tied former Bulldog Alisa Goler for the school and SEC record with 83 RBI in a season.
Iosefa and Sumerlin both went deep in Georgia's three-run second inning that gave the Bulldogs the upper hand in the contest. Senior Chelsea Wilkinson allowed only two hits in a complete game and surrendered just one earned run to the Wildcats. Georgia's win puts it in position to advance to the Super Regional round with a victory on Sunday.
The Bulldogs claimed a 3-0 edge in the top of the second as Iosefa and Sumerlin each went yard in the frame. Iosefa opened the inning with a solo homer to right field for a 1-0 lead, and Sumerlin capped the inning with a two-out, two-run shot to left, scoring Katie Browne to give the Bulldogs the three-run cushion.
Georgia added on to the lead in the third, cashing in on back-to-back hits from Sydni and Cortni Emanuel to start off the inning and put two in scoring position with no outs. A sacrifice fly from Iosefa brought in Sydni to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead through three.
Sydni Emanuel pushed the advantage to five runs in the fourth with a two-out RBI single to score Maeve McGuire and claim a 5-0 lead at the game's halfway point. Northwestern recorded its first base runner of the contest in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out single to center, though the runner was left stranded.
The Wildcats struck in the bottom of the seventh for two runs, taking advantage of a Georgia error and a two-run homer from Amy Letourneau, but they were unable to tie the game.
The winner of today's final contest between Northwestern and the winner of Oklahoma State and Maine will move on to face the Bulldogs on Sunday at 1 p.m. Georgia will get two cracks (if necessary) at winning one game to advance to super regionals.
HOW TO FOLLOW GEORGIA SOFTBALL: For complete information on Georgia softball, follow the team on its social media channels via @UGASoftball on Twitter and Instagram and UGASoftball on Facebook.
