Georgia Drops 2-1 Decision in Eight Innings to #7 Minnesota

Saturday, May 18

Minneapolis, Minn.

4 p.m.

University of Georgia

42-18

Minnesota

43-12

Georgia

Minnesota

Georgia Drops 2-1 Decision in Eight Innings to #7 Minnesota

May 18, 2019 | Softball

Box Score NCAA vs. Minnesota 51819

MINNEAPOLIS – For the second game in a row, Georgia softball battled in extra innings in the NCAA Minneapolis Regional, this time falling to host and #7 national seed Minnesota, 2-1, in eight innings.

Georgia (42-18) will turn around to play Saturday evening in an elimination game. The Bulldogs will face the winner of Drake and North Dakota State. First pitch is slated for 9 p.m., ET, from Minneapolis.

Saturday afternoon's game was Georgia's fifth extra-inning affair in its last 10 contests.

"We knew going into this game we were in for another battle against a top pitcher," said head coach Lu Harris-Champer. "Mary [Wilson Avant] pitched a great game for us in the circle, arguably one of her better performances this season. Jordan [Doggett] was seeing the ball well and took advantage of her opportunities today. We're going to regroup and get back after it tonight."

In the circle, Mary Wilson Avant (10-5) pitched the complete game for Georgia, working seven complete innings, allowing just four hits to the Golden Gophers (43-12). She fanned seven batters in the contests.

The Bulldogs were held to two hits, both off the bat of junior Jordan Doggett. The first went for her second home run of the season.

Georgia and Minnesota were locked in a scoreless pitchers' duel through five complete innings of Saturday's game.

With one swing of Doggett's bat in the top of the sixth, the Bulldogs broke up the 0-0 tie as well as Minnesota's no-hit bid, taking a 1-0 lead on the Gophers. The home run to straight-away center was Doggett's second of the season and third of her career.

Down to their final three outs, Minnesota plated a run in the bottom of the seventh to knot the game up and force extra innings.

Doggett's second hit game came with one out in the top of the eighth, an infield single to short.

Minnesota's Hope Brandner hit a leadoff home run to left center in the bottom half of the eighth to walk off the Bulldogs and secure a spot in the Regional final Sunday for Minnesota.