Sunday, March 7
Athens, Ga.
2:00 p.m.
University of Georgia
14-2
6
vs
0
Mercer
7-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Mercer
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
5
Georgia
0
0
1
1
1
3
X
6
7
3
No. 19 Georgia Blanks Bears in Bulldog Classic Finale, 6-0
March 07, 2021 | Softball
ATHENS, Ga. – The 19th-ranked Georgia softball team shut out Mercer 6-0 on the final day of the Bulldog Classic at Jack Turner Stadium.
Georgia (14-2) pushes its win streak to 11 games with Sunday's win.
The Bulldogs' offense was paced by two-hit performances from sophomore Sydney Kuma and freshman Payden Bordeau. Bordeau's sixth-inning double drove in two runs, the first and second RBI of her career.
Mary Wilson Avant (8-0) worked her fourth complete game of the season, going the distance for her first complete-game shutout. She allowed just three hits and struck out 11 batters. Avant did not allow a walk Sunday.
A costly throwing error by Mercer's starting pitcher allowed sophomore Sara Mosley to score all the way from first in Georgia's half of the third, putting the Bulldogs on the board first 1-0.
Freshman Jayda Kearney doubled off the wall in left in the fourth to drive in Lacey Fincher and double the Bulldogs' lead to 2-0.
Pinch runner Aniyah Black touched home on a single to center off the bat of Kuma in the fifth.
Georgia tacked on three more runs in the sixth. With two in scoring position, a sac fly to left off the bat of senior Mackenzie Puckett allowed Jaiden Fields to tag up and score. After a fielder's choice at home and a Sara Mosely base hit, Bordeau provided a double to deep left center, plating both runs and brining the Bulldogs' final tally to 6-0.
Georgia returns to action at Jack Turner Stadium this Wednesday for a midweek matchup with Georgia State. First pitch against the Panthers is set for 6 p.m.
Head coach Lu Harris-Champer
On changing up the lineup and getting new players on the field…
"We have a lot of good players on our team. I think it's important to give people opportunities. I feel like when they earn it, they get the opportunity to continue to play. On the weekend I'm just super proud of the team for their scrap and fight. I feel like we got a little bit mentally tougher this weekend. Just felt like we gritted out some tough games and just thought we played really hard. Today I thought Sydney Kuma was excellent at the plate, Payden [Bordeau] had a couple of RBI for us, I was proud that we manufactured runs through multiple innings, and I thought Mary Wilson [Avant] was outstanding in the circle."
On the offensive consistency…
"I think it's always really important to be able to pass the bat. You know, to put productive at bats back-to-back to back. I think it's important to be able to do it more than just waiting for a long ball to happen."
Graduate Mary Wilson Avant
On how she prepares for two-straight games…
"I think I just have to be prepared to be mentally tough the whole weekend. I have certain routines, get my coffee in the morning, stuff like that. Then just coming into the locker room and having fun with my teammates, keeping it lighthearted."
On what she needs to improve on in the circle…
"I think just staying consistent through the end of the game and not getting mentally outside of myself or the task at hand, and just staying focused."
Freshman Payden Bordeau
On how her hitting has improved and has translated into the game…
"Since I've been here in the fall, Tony's really just talked about staying calm in your bats, just not getting outside of yourself and staying in the moment. So, I really think that's helped me in these past couple games. Just staying calm."
On her relationship with Mary as her catcher on the field…
"Obviously I'm a freshman so our bond is still growing. Before both games I actually had a talk with both of them and saying this is a duo so just be calm and confident with me and know I have your back. Just trying to keep them calm and know I can help them out the whole game."
Georgia (14-2) pushes its win streak to 11 games with Sunday's win.
The Bulldogs' offense was paced by two-hit performances from sophomore Sydney Kuma and freshman Payden Bordeau. Bordeau's sixth-inning double drove in two runs, the first and second RBI of her career.
Mary Wilson Avant (8-0) worked her fourth complete game of the season, going the distance for her first complete-game shutout. She allowed just three hits and struck out 11 batters. Avant did not allow a walk Sunday.
A costly throwing error by Mercer's starting pitcher allowed sophomore Sara Mosley to score all the way from first in Georgia's half of the third, putting the Bulldogs on the board first 1-0.
Freshman Jayda Kearney doubled off the wall in left in the fourth to drive in Lacey Fincher and double the Bulldogs' lead to 2-0.
Pinch runner Aniyah Black touched home on a single to center off the bat of Kuma in the fifth.
Georgia tacked on three more runs in the sixth. With two in scoring position, a sac fly to left off the bat of senior Mackenzie Puckett allowed Jaiden Fields to tag up and score. After a fielder's choice at home and a Sara Mosely base hit, Bordeau provided a double to deep left center, plating both runs and brining the Bulldogs' final tally to 6-0.
Georgia returns to action at Jack Turner Stadium this Wednesday for a midweek matchup with Georgia State. First pitch against the Panthers is set for 6 p.m.
Head coach Lu Harris-Champer
On changing up the lineup and getting new players on the field…
"We have a lot of good players on our team. I think it's important to give people opportunities. I feel like when they earn it, they get the opportunity to continue to play. On the weekend I'm just super proud of the team for their scrap and fight. I feel like we got a little bit mentally tougher this weekend. Just felt like we gritted out some tough games and just thought we played really hard. Today I thought Sydney Kuma was excellent at the plate, Payden [Bordeau] had a couple of RBI for us, I was proud that we manufactured runs through multiple innings, and I thought Mary Wilson [Avant] was outstanding in the circle."
On the offensive consistency…
"I think it's always really important to be able to pass the bat. You know, to put productive at bats back-to-back to back. I think it's important to be able to do it more than just waiting for a long ball to happen."
Graduate Mary Wilson Avant
On how she prepares for two-straight games…
"I think I just have to be prepared to be mentally tough the whole weekend. I have certain routines, get my coffee in the morning, stuff like that. Then just coming into the locker room and having fun with my teammates, keeping it lighthearted."
On what she needs to improve on in the circle…
"I think just staying consistent through the end of the game and not getting mentally outside of myself or the task at hand, and just staying focused."
Freshman Payden Bordeau
On how her hitting has improved and has translated into the game…
"Since I've been here in the fall, Tony's really just talked about staying calm in your bats, just not getting outside of yourself and staying in the moment. So, I really think that's helped me in these past couple games. Just staying calm."
On her relationship with Mary as her catcher on the field…
"Obviously I'm a freshman so our bond is still growing. Before both games I actually had a talk with both of them and saying this is a duo so just be calm and confident with me and know I have your back. Just trying to keep them calm and know I can help them out the whole game."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Avant, Mary Wilson (8-0)
L: Amber Byrd (1-4)
Base Running:
SB: Allie Jones 1 ; Annie Potter 1
Batting:
2B: Kearney, Jayda 1 ; Bordeau, Payden 1
RBI: Kuma, Sydney 1 ; Kearney, Jayda 1 ; Puckett, Mackenzie 1 ; Bordeau, Payden 2
SH: Kearney, Jayda 1
SF: Puckett, Mackenzie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fincher, Lacey 1 ; Fields, Jaiden 1 ; Sikes, Savana 1 ; Mosley, Sara 2 ; Black, Aniyah 1
SB: Kearney, Jayda 1 ; Black, Aniyah 1
HBP: Mosley, Sara 1
PO: Kuma, Sydney 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballGeorgia Softball vs Florida NCAA Super Regional Game 3 Postgame Press Conference
Monday, May 26
Georgia Softball vs Florida NCAA Super Regional Game 2 Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, May 24
Georgia Softball vs Florida NCAA Super Regional Game 2 TV Highlights
Saturday, May 24
Georgia Softball vs Florida NCAA Super Regional Postgame Press Conference
Friday, May 23
