#6 Georgia Tops Owls, 4-1

Wednesday, March 28

Athens, Ga.

6 PM

University of Georgia

Kennesaw State

Photo by: Steffenie Burns

March 28, 2018 | Softball

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ATHENS, Ga.— The sixth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs softball team defeated in-state opponent Kennesaw State, 4-1, in its midweek series at Jack Turner Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Junior left-handed pitcher Kylie Bass tossed 5.1 innings, improving to 10-1 on the season and allowing only two hits with four strikeouts. Senior right-handed pitcher Britany Gray pitched 1.2 innings in relief and earned her second save of the season.

The Georgia (30-3) offense was led by freshman designated player Jessica Morgan, sophomore second baseman Justice Milz, and senior left fielder Cortni Emanuel with two hits apiece.

"We're really proud of the girls' mindset," associate head coach Tony Baldwin said. "We were really sluggish to start, the girls just got together and talked about changing their mindset and competing for each other. Throughout the game we had quality at-bats, we just weren't getting the hits to go where they were needed. We just kept fighting and competing and eventually things went our way."

The Bulldogs scored in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead after a single to center by sophomore catcher Mahlena O'Neal. Kennesaw State (22-12) reacted in the second by tying it up after a base hit to left field by Jessie Mullen.

After three scoreless innings, an RBI groundout from Milz during the bottom of the fifth scored sophomore pinch runner Kaylie Harding to reclaim the lead, 2-1.

With runners on first and second in the sixth frame, Gray entered the game to provide an inning-ending double play and contain the Georgia edge at one.

The Bulldogs continued in the sixth with two more runs. Sophomore first baseman Alysen Febrey was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, followed by a sacrifice bunt from O'Neal, advancing Febrey to second. After a base hit from sophomore center fielder Ciara Bryan, Morgan picked up two RBI on a base hit to left field, advancing Georgia to a three-run lead.

Georgia hits the road this weekend to face seventh-ranked Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. The series will begin Saturday at 5 p.m. ET.