University of Georgia Athletics
Sunday, April 29
Athens, Ga.
2 PM
University of Georgia
4
vs
7
Alabama
Photo by: Steffenie Burns
No. 6 Georgia’s Comeback Falls Short Against No. 17 Alabama, 7-4
April 29, 2018 | Softball
ATHENS, Ga. — The No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs softball team fell to No. 17 Alabama, 7-4, Sunday afternoon in the series finale at Jack Turner Stadium.
Both pitching staffs spread work between three pitchers apiece. For the Bulldogs, sophomore Mary Wilson Avant (8-2) worked two innings in the circle, before freshman Lauren Mathis pitched three and one-third innings in relief, facing the minimum through three-straight frames. Keara Napoli finished the game for Georgia, allowing one hit and striking out two.
Alabama (29-17, 9-12) jumped to an early lead. In the top of the first inning, the Tide pieced together a quartet of base hits, with Gabby Callaway's single to short scoring Demi Turner. The infield hit was followed by a three-run home run from Bailey Hemphill, giving the Tide a 4-0 lead.
Alabama extended their margin in the second. Turner hit a sacrifice fly to right field and scored Claire Jenkins, giving the Tide a 5-0 advantage.
Senior Cortni Emanuel led the offense for the Bulldogs with two hits on the day. In the bottom of the third, the senior walked and stole second base, marking a career-high 46 stolen bases on the season, which topped her previous total of 45, set in 2015. In the next inning, Emanuel poked a single to shortstop, scoring sophomore Ciara Bryan, making the score 5-1 after four frames.
Alabama's offense continued to produce in the sixth inning, plating two more runs. Napoli and the Bulldog defense held the Tide in the seventh.
Georgia's determined offense retaliated in the seventh. Sophomore Justice Milz doubled to left center and recorded two RBI, scoring Emanuel and sophomore Jordan Doggett. The charge continued with a double from sophomore Alysen Febrey, plating freshman pinch runner Tyler Armistead and making the score 7-4, but the Tide notched the last three outs to avoid the sweep.
Up next, Georgia finishes regular season action against Ole Miss on the road. Game one of the three-game series is set for Friday, May 4 at 7 p.m. in Oxford, Mississippi.
Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer
On the game…
"We had a lot of opportunity to capitalize in the game and we did not take advantage of those situations we had. I was very proud of our team's fight at the end of the game to stay in it. Gave ourselves a chance. We did a good job matching up and mixing up. When it is said and done we had opportunity and we did not capitalize. They did."
On the comeback…
"The never give in. That is what I love about this team they do not give in. They do not give up. They just keep fighting."
What to focus on moving forward…
"We are just focused on Ole Miss.We got them up next away, right at the end of finals. Finals are all week long. They will hit their books hard and then go out to Ole Miss."
Both pitching staffs spread work between three pitchers apiece. For the Bulldogs, sophomore Mary Wilson Avant (8-2) worked two innings in the circle, before freshman Lauren Mathis pitched three and one-third innings in relief, facing the minimum through three-straight frames. Keara Napoli finished the game for Georgia, allowing one hit and striking out two.
Alabama (29-17, 9-12) jumped to an early lead. In the top of the first inning, the Tide pieced together a quartet of base hits, with Gabby Callaway's single to short scoring Demi Turner. The infield hit was followed by a three-run home run from Bailey Hemphill, giving the Tide a 4-0 lead.
Alabama extended their margin in the second. Turner hit a sacrifice fly to right field and scored Claire Jenkins, giving the Tide a 5-0 advantage.
Senior Cortni Emanuel led the offense for the Bulldogs with two hits on the day. In the bottom of the third, the senior walked and stole second base, marking a career-high 46 stolen bases on the season, which topped her previous total of 45, set in 2015. In the next inning, Emanuel poked a single to shortstop, scoring sophomore Ciara Bryan, making the score 5-1 after four frames.
Alabama's offense continued to produce in the sixth inning, plating two more runs. Napoli and the Bulldog defense held the Tide in the seventh.
Georgia's determined offense retaliated in the seventh. Sophomore Justice Milz doubled to left center and recorded two RBI, scoring Emanuel and sophomore Jordan Doggett. The charge continued with a double from sophomore Alysen Febrey, plating freshman pinch runner Tyler Armistead and making the score 7-4, but the Tide notched the last three outs to avoid the sweep.
Up next, Georgia finishes regular season action against Ole Miss on the road. Game one of the three-game series is set for Friday, May 4 at 7 p.m. in Oxford, Mississippi.
Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer
On the game…
"We had a lot of opportunity to capitalize in the game and we did not take advantage of those situations we had. I was very proud of our team's fight at the end of the game to stay in it. Gave ourselves a chance. We did a good job matching up and mixing up. When it is said and done we had opportunity and we did not capitalize. They did."
On the comeback…
"The never give in. That is what I love about this team they do not give in. They do not give up. They just keep fighting."
What to focus on moving forward…
"We are just focused on Ole Miss.We got them up next away, right at the end of finals. Finals are all week long. They will hit their books hard and then go out to Ole Miss."
Players Mentioned
UT
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
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