No. 16 Georgia No-Hits Longwood to Open Georgia Classic, 10-2

Friday, February 19

Athens, Ga.

3:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

3-1

Longwood

0-1

Longwood

Georgia

No. 16 Georgia No-Hits Longwood to Open Georgia Classic, 10-2

February 19, 2021 | Softball

Box Score

ATHENS, Ga. – Graduate pitcher Mary Wilson Avant guided the 16^th-ranked Georgia softball team to a combined no-hitter of Longwood Friday afternoon at Jack Turner Stadium. The Bulldogs run-ruled the Lancers in six innings, 10-2.

The no-hitter was the 45^th in Georgia softball history and the fourth Avant has been a part of. Avant (3-0) pitched five full frames, giving up no hits or runs, and striking out 10 batters. Freshman Madison Kerpics tossed one inning in relief, striking out each batter she faced and gaining her first three strikeouts in a Bulldog uniform. Fellow freshman Britton Rogers also made her debut in the circle for Georgia.

Georgia (3-1) combined for 11 hits against the Lancers (0-1). Three Bulldogs recorded multiple hits including a career-best four hits from junior Lacey Fincher, also driving in three runs. In her first start of the season, fellow junior Savana Sikes also earned a career-best with three hits, driving in two runs. Fincher and Sikes each knocked a pair of doubles, the first multi-double game for both. Senior catcher Jessica Morgan picked up two hits including a three-run home run.

The Georgia offense came out of the gate strong led by a single off the bat of sophomore Sydney Kuma in the bottom of the first. Kuma reached scoring position on a passed ball, and Sikes followed with an RBI single to the right side to plate Kuma, putting the Bulldogs up 1-0 in the opening stanza.

Sikes reignited the Georgia offense in its end of the third inning by knocking a one-out double. A single from Fincher plated Sikes, and sophomore Sara Mosley followed up with home run over the left field wall, extending the Bulldog lead to 4-0.

Georgia added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore Jaiden Fields scored on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Sikes, 5-0.

Longwood broke through in the top of the fifth to get on the board. After walking the bases loaded, another walk plated the first Lancer run of the 2021 season. A sacrifice fly to left scored another to cut into the Georgia lead, 5-2.

Fincher led off the bottom of the fifth with a double to right center. After a walk to Mosely, Morgan blasted her second home run of the season into the trees in right center to lengthen the lead to 8-2.

A leadoff walk drawn by freshman pinch hitter Cayla Bishop, followed by Sikes' third hit on the day in the bottom of the sixth put two runners on base for Georgia. Fincher's second double of the game plated both runners and sealed the run-rule victory for the Bulldogs in six innings, 10-2.

Georgia and Longwood will square off again Saturday at 11 a.m. at Jack Turner Stadium. Georgia will then play Kent State at 2:15 p.m.

Georgia Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer
On what contributed most to Georgia's success on the field today…
"I think we had all aspects of the game. We had good pitching, we had really good defense, and we had good offense. I thought Mary Wilson really set the tone from the mound the way that she was controlling the game with her pitches. I thought it was really fun to see Madison come in and get three strikeouts. I just thought there was some good flow and some really good pitches made today. I'm just really proud of the pitchers for combining for a no-hitter. Anytime you can get a no hitter, you have a good chance of winning."

On Georgia getting their 45^th program no-hitter in Friday's game…
"It's pretty exciting. The girls do a good job, they work hard, Coach Rachele Fico does a wonderful job with them. Mary, I think has been a part of four of those, so that's pretty awesome. She's just a blessing of a person to have out there. Her and Fico work great together. It was very exciting to have that happen again today."

Sophomore infielder Sara Mosley
On what led to her success on the field…
"At practice yesterday, we went through mental training, and we talked about envisioning yourself competing as your best self and being your best self. Before I went to bed last night, I just thought about me in my best state, and I visualized me performing well, and that's what really helped."

On her home run…
"I was excited of course, but it was just my team having my back, being myself, and playing our game."

Senior catcher Jessica Morgan
On the Mary Wilson Avant's strong start in today's game…
"Mary is just a leader on our team, and she works hard every day at practice. She trains at practice like it's a game, so when we get in a game, it's a lot easier. She's awesome to play with and for our defense to play behind."

On her home run today…
"I was just thinking opposite field. We've been working all week on letting the ball get deep and working our process. So, I was just trusting myself and hitting for my team."