University of Georgia Athletics
Bulldogs Learn Plenty In Opening Sweep
February 13, 2017 | Softball
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
The Georgia softball team got what it wanted and needed from its opening weekend. The 10th-ranked Bulldogs won all five of their games in the Red and Black Showcase, goal No. 1, but it also faced challenges and big moments in those games.
Georgia won two of the five games in walk-off fashion, getting game-winning hits in the bottom of the seventh inning. In Sunday's finale at Jack Turner Stadium, a 3-1 victory over East Carolina, the Bulldogs faced a small deficit, 1-0 after the top of the fifth, and answered that call, as well.
"I did absolutely appreciate the way a few of the players responded in clutch situations. I thought we learned a lot there," said coach Lu Harris-Champer.
Early challenges are important for any team, of course. For a Georgia squad with a lot of new faces, that weren't part of the team's run to the College World Series last spring, there's no better way to get a look at what players can do in crunch time than by being there.
Of Georgia's seven hits Sunday, four came from a pair of freshmen: shortstop Ciara Bryan and second baseman Justice Milz had a pair of hits each and scored the first and second runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Both Milz and Bryan started all five games over the weekend — Bryan finished with five hits and four runs scored, while Milz managed four hits and four runs. Another freshman, Alysen Febrey, went 0-for-3 Sunday after going 7-for-11 at the plate to start her career.
"'Just go for it,' that's what I wrote down in my notebook," Milz said. "Just go for it, no nerves, don't think about and just go for it."
A year ago, Alyssa DiCarlo and Lacey Sumerlin were freshmen starting on the left side of the infield for a very experienced lineup. Not only did both wind up on the SEC All-Freshman team, but DiCarlo was named first-team All-SEC, as well.
DiCarlo hit .371, with 63 RBIs and 11 home runs in 2016, and it all started with a significant first game, one that proved she belonged. Her first career at-bat came with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first. After two nervous swings she settled down, fought off some pitches and delivered with a two-run single. She doubled off the wall in her next at-bat and never let up all season.
A year later, DiCarlo, who remembers that first game well, is one of the veterans on the team. She has seven hits, three homers and nine RBIs after Georgia's first five games of 2017, and she's also adjusting to being a team leader.
"Not being a freshman makes a big, big difference," She said. "I've already been through the nerves before, so now I just kind of try to pass it on to the freshmen, tell them it's normal. ... I struggled with [the leadership role] at the beginning, definitely, because it's a big adjustment. Now I've got to be the one to say what to do."
Leading the team in hits so far is no surprise, junior Cortni Emanuel, who has nine in 18 at-bats. Her sister, senior Sydni, isn't far behind with six in 14 at-bats. Normally the Emanuels get on base with bunts and walks that they turn into doubles by stealing second.
On Sunday, with the bases loaded with Milz, Bryan and Kendall Burton, the left-hitting Cortni aggressively slapped a pitch into left field, scoring two runs. It may be the hardest you see her swing all season.
"She's been working really hard on hitting and hitting away during practice," catcher Maeve McGuire said. "She's really been working on a powerful slap and her swing, which is really cool to see her bring out in a game like that."
Georgia already knew that Brittany Gray could pitch, having seen her throw nearly 250 innings during her first two seasons. But in those seasons she wasn't the ace, that was Chelsea Wilkinson, who finished her Georgia career second on the all-time list in both wins (97) and strikeouts (897).
Gray is the ace now and had a very strong first weekend, picking up three wins and allowing one earned run in 16.0 innings. Gray did what her teammates knew she could do, McGuire said.
"She came out and had some fire with her and she showed people who she was," McGuire said. "She competed all weekend and she was awesome."
Georgia is back in action on Wednesday when it hosts a doubleheader against Presbyterian.
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
