University of Georgia Athletics
Friday, April 27
Athens, Ga.
6 PM
University of Georgia
41-7, 14-5
5
vs
3
Alabama
28-16, 8-11
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Alabama
0
0
0
1
2
0
0
3
6
3
Georgia
0
0
4
1
0
0
X
5
6
3
Photo by: Steffenie Burns
No. 6 Georgia Opens Tide Series With 5-3 Win
April 27, 2018 | Softball
ATHENS, Ga. —In front of a crowd of 1,263 for the final home series of the season, the sixth-ranked Georgia softball team defeated No. 17 Alabama, 5-3 Friday evening at Jack Turner Stadium.
The Bulldogs (41-7, 14-5) secured their 30th win at home this season, the most since 2014. The game marked the beginning of the seventh Southeastern Conference series for the Bulldogs and the sixth time they have taken game one. It also registered as the first win against Alabama (28-16, 8-11) in Athens since 2015.
Georgia starter Mary Wilson Avant (8-1), the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Week, pitched her sixth complete game of the season in the circle for the Bulldogs. The sophomore allowed six hits, struck out three, while yielding just two earned runs.
Both offenses scattered six hits. Half of Georgia's hits came from senior Cortni Emanuel as she registered a 3-for-3 game. Emanuel put herself in sole possession of second place in Georgia's all-time career hit list with 314 in a Bulldog uniform.
The Bulldog offensive charge began in the bottom of the third inning. Georgia capitalized on two Alabama errors in one play that scored Alysen Febrey and Alyssa DiCarlo who reached on a walk and a single, respectively. Shortly after, Jessica Morgan homered to left field, also scoring Ciara Bryan. Morgan's fourth home run of the season gave Georgia the edge 4-0 after three.
The Tide answered in the top of the next inning as Carrigan Fain singled up the middle to score Sydney Booker to make the score, 4-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, Emmanuel singled to right center for her 313th career hit, tying Kim Wendland for second in all-time career hits by a Bulldog. Emanuel preceded to steal second and advanced to third on the catcher's errant throw. Next, Emmanuel scored off a wild pitch to extend the Georgia lead to 5-1 at the bottom of the fourth.
Alabama responded with a two-run home run from Booker in the top of the fifth to close the Tide's gap to 5-3. Avant and the defense held through the final two innings to earn the win in game one of the three-game set.
The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide are set to play again Saturday, April 28 for Georgia's Senior Night. Action is slated for 6 p.m. at Jack Turner Stadium. Admission is free.
Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer
On Jessica Morgan's performance…
"I am so proud of her. She has been working on that particular location for the last three weeks. To see her get out there and be able to look around some pitches to find the pitch she wanted, I was really proud of her. It is fun when hard work pays off."
On Senior DaySaturday…
"These seniors are amazing. They have led this team all season on and off the field. They are amazing young women. They are going to do great things with their lives, and I cannot even fathom thinking of them not being here. I am not going to go there until August."
On the crowd…
"Our fans are amazing. The girls get so amped up and excited to play in front of their fans. It makes all the difference in the world. They love to have that adrenaline. It helps you do better in big moments."
Freshman Jessica Morgan
On her home run…
"It felt great. We've been working on that pitch all week. In practice, Coach Tony (Baldwin) would make us hit-and-run, which just basically means you have to hit every pitch and he would pitch it high and inside, which was right where that pitch was. … I haven't felt that in a long time, so it was great."
The Bulldogs (41-7, 14-5) secured their 30th win at home this season, the most since 2014. The game marked the beginning of the seventh Southeastern Conference series for the Bulldogs and the sixth time they have taken game one. It also registered as the first win against Alabama (28-16, 8-11) in Athens since 2015.
Georgia starter Mary Wilson Avant (8-1), the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Week, pitched her sixth complete game of the season in the circle for the Bulldogs. The sophomore allowed six hits, struck out three, while yielding just two earned runs.
Both offenses scattered six hits. Half of Georgia's hits came from senior Cortni Emanuel as she registered a 3-for-3 game. Emanuel put herself in sole possession of second place in Georgia's all-time career hit list with 314 in a Bulldog uniform.
The Bulldog offensive charge began in the bottom of the third inning. Georgia capitalized on two Alabama errors in one play that scored Alysen Febrey and Alyssa DiCarlo who reached on a walk and a single, respectively. Shortly after, Jessica Morgan homered to left field, also scoring Ciara Bryan. Morgan's fourth home run of the season gave Georgia the edge 4-0 after three.
The Tide answered in the top of the next inning as Carrigan Fain singled up the middle to score Sydney Booker to make the score, 4-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, Emmanuel singled to right center for her 313th career hit, tying Kim Wendland for second in all-time career hits by a Bulldog. Emanuel preceded to steal second and advanced to third on the catcher's errant throw. Next, Emmanuel scored off a wild pitch to extend the Georgia lead to 5-1 at the bottom of the fourth.
Alabama responded with a two-run home run from Booker in the top of the fifth to close the Tide's gap to 5-3. Avant and the defense held through the final two innings to earn the win in game one of the three-game set.
The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide are set to play again Saturday, April 28 for Georgia's Senior Night. Action is slated for 6 p.m. at Jack Turner Stadium. Admission is free.
Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer
On Jessica Morgan's performance…
"I am so proud of her. She has been working on that particular location for the last three weeks. To see her get out there and be able to look around some pitches to find the pitch she wanted, I was really proud of her. It is fun when hard work pays off."
On Senior DaySaturday…
"These seniors are amazing. They have led this team all season on and off the field. They are amazing young women. They are going to do great things with their lives, and I cannot even fathom thinking of them not being here. I am not going to go there until August."
On the crowd…
"Our fans are amazing. The girls get so amped up and excited to play in front of their fans. It makes all the difference in the world. They love to have that adrenaline. It helps you do better in big moments."
Freshman Jessica Morgan
On her home run…
"It felt great. We've been working on that pitch all week. In practice, Coach Tony (Baldwin) would make us hit-and-run, which just basically means you have to hit every pitch and he would pitch it high and inside, which was right where that pitch was. … I haven't felt that in a long time, so it was great."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Avant, Mary Wilson (8-1)
L: Alexis Osorio (11-8)
Batting:
2B: Reagan Dykes 1
HR: Sydney Booker 1
RBI: Sydney Booker 2 ; Carrigan Fain 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Merris Schroder 1 ; Sydney Booker 2
SB: Elissa Brown 1
CS: Elissa Brown 1
HBP: Sydney Booker 1
Batting:
HR: Morgan, Jessica 1
RBI: Morgan, Jessica 2
SH: Burton, Kendall 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Emanuel, Cortni 1 ; DiCarlo, Alyssa 1 ; Febrey, Alysen 1 ; Bryan, Ciara 1 ; Morgan, Jessica 1
SB: Emanuel, Cortni 2 ; Doggett, Jordan 1
CS: Bryan, Ciara 1
HBP: Morgan, Jessica 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
P
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballIF/OF
/ SoftballC/UT
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