University of Georgia Athletics
Friday, March 12
Athens, Ga.
6:00 p.m.
University of Georgia
16-2
3
vs
0
East Carolina
9-7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
East Carolina
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
Georgia
0
0
2
1
0
0
X
3
6
1
Bulldogs Blank East Carolina to Open UGA Classic
March 12, 2021 | Softball
ATHENS, Ga – The No. 18 Georgia softball team topped East Carolina, 3-0, in a two-hit shutout Friday evening in the opening game of the UGA Classic at Jack Turner Stadium.
Graduate Mary Wilson Avant started in the circle for the Bulldogs (16-2) in the first game of the weekend tournament, tossing a complete game as she shut out the Pirate (9-7) offense and struck out 11 batters. With the win, Avant improved to 9-0 on the season and lowered her ERA to 0.98.
After two quiet innings, a sharp single off the bat of sophomore second baseman Sydney Kuma ignited the Georgia offense in the bottom of the third. Junior shortstop Savana Sikes then capitalized by sending her third home run of the season over the right field fence, picking up two RBI and putting the Bulldogs ahead 2-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, back-to-back singles off the bats of sophomore outfielder Jaiden Fields and freshman outfielder Jayda Kearney put two Bulldogs on the bags. In an early insurance opportunity, freshman catcher Payden Bordeau plated Fields with an infield single, extending the lead to 3-0.
East Carolina threatened in the sixth with two runners in scoring position, but Avant was able to maintain her shutout as she induced a groundout to end the threat. Later, in the seventh, she put aside a leadoff single to retire the side and clinch the victory.
Georgia will again face off against East Carolina on Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m. at Jack Turner Stadium, followed by a matchup with North Dakota at 2:45 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on SEC Network+.
Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer
On the 13-game winning streak…
"I think you just have to get some great play and find some different ways to win a game. Tonight, I was really proud of our team synergy. I thought we had a really good fight up and down the lineup. We had excellent pitching. I thought Mary (Wilson Avant) came out and really trusted her spin and let the ball break. Payden (Bordeau) behind the dish was outstanding with her as well. I thought Savana Sikes being clutch was exciting. It's really fun when different hitters step up in different games, and that really helps us. When we're all out there competing, we have a good opportunity for getting the job done."
On what Mary Wilson Avant means to this team…
"Mary is just a wonderful human being and an outstanding pitcher. I love watching her pitch. It's been really fun to see her grow and to see her being her out there. She's a fun person to have on the team, a fun person to coach, a fun person to be around. I think that really feeds off confidence in her team. I know her team loves to play behind her because they know that her character is outstanding and that she would do anything for them. In turn, they would do anything for her. They work hard for her."
Graduate Mary Wilson Avant
On her mindset in the circle when she is performing well…
"I never know that I have a no-hitter or anything like that. That's not something that's really on my mind. I'm just constantly going out there trying to get the next three batters out, just to do what I do, and get in there so my hitters can hit."
On her game prep routine…
"I think I give myself plenty of time to warm up and just have a good mindset while I'm warming up. A competitive mindset, so I can transfer that to the field and just be ready to attack."
Junior Savana Sikes
On her mentality at the plate tonight…
"Basically, I was just thinking put my core on the ball. Earlier today, we worked really hard at just hitting behind and driving the ball, so that was my mentality up to bat."
On her concentration on defense in the fourth inning…
"I just saw the ball go in that direction, in the 5-6 hole, and I just read it off Sara's (Mosley) glove like a regular ground ball and got her out."
Graduate Mary Wilson Avant started in the circle for the Bulldogs (16-2) in the first game of the weekend tournament, tossing a complete game as she shut out the Pirate (9-7) offense and struck out 11 batters. With the win, Avant improved to 9-0 on the season and lowered her ERA to 0.98.
After two quiet innings, a sharp single off the bat of sophomore second baseman Sydney Kuma ignited the Georgia offense in the bottom of the third. Junior shortstop Savana Sikes then capitalized by sending her third home run of the season over the right field fence, picking up two RBI and putting the Bulldogs ahead 2-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, back-to-back singles off the bats of sophomore outfielder Jaiden Fields and freshman outfielder Jayda Kearney put two Bulldogs on the bags. In an early insurance opportunity, freshman catcher Payden Bordeau plated Fields with an infield single, extending the lead to 3-0.
East Carolina threatened in the sixth with two runners in scoring position, but Avant was able to maintain her shutout as she induced a groundout to end the threat. Later, in the seventh, she put aside a leadoff single to retire the side and clinch the victory.
Georgia will again face off against East Carolina on Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m. at Jack Turner Stadium, followed by a matchup with North Dakota at 2:45 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on SEC Network+.
Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer
On the 13-game winning streak…
"I think you just have to get some great play and find some different ways to win a game. Tonight, I was really proud of our team synergy. I thought we had a really good fight up and down the lineup. We had excellent pitching. I thought Mary (Wilson Avant) came out and really trusted her spin and let the ball break. Payden (Bordeau) behind the dish was outstanding with her as well. I thought Savana Sikes being clutch was exciting. It's really fun when different hitters step up in different games, and that really helps us. When we're all out there competing, we have a good opportunity for getting the job done."
On what Mary Wilson Avant means to this team…
"Mary is just a wonderful human being and an outstanding pitcher. I love watching her pitch. It's been really fun to see her grow and to see her being her out there. She's a fun person to have on the team, a fun person to coach, a fun person to be around. I think that really feeds off confidence in her team. I know her team loves to play behind her because they know that her character is outstanding and that she would do anything for them. In turn, they would do anything for her. They work hard for her."
Graduate Mary Wilson Avant
On her mindset in the circle when she is performing well…
"I never know that I have a no-hitter or anything like that. That's not something that's really on my mind. I'm just constantly going out there trying to get the next three batters out, just to do what I do, and get in there so my hitters can hit."
On her game prep routine…
"I think I give myself plenty of time to warm up and just have a good mindset while I'm warming up. A competitive mindset, so I can transfer that to the field and just be ready to attack."
Junior Savana Sikes
On her mentality at the plate tonight…
"Basically, I was just thinking put my core on the ball. Earlier today, we worked really hard at just hitting behind and driving the ball, so that was my mentality up to bat."
On her concentration on defense in the fourth inning…
"I just saw the ball go in that direction, in the 5-6 hole, and I just read it off Sara's (Mosley) glove like a regular ground ball and got her out."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Avant, Mary Wilson (9-0)
L: WOODALL, Kama (4-3)
Batting:
HR: Sikes, Savana 1
RBI: Sikes, Savana 2 ; Bordeau, Payden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kuma, Sydney 1 ; Sikes, Savana 1 ; Fields, Jaiden 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballINF
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