University of Georgia Athletics
Friday, February 25
Athens, Ga.
3:30 p.m.
University of Georgia
11-2
3
vs
2
North Carolina
8-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
North Carolina
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
2
4
2
Georgia
0
2
0
0
0
1
X
3
6
1
Macy’s Perfect Game Highlights Pair of Georgia Wins Friday
February 25, 2022 | Softball
ATHENS, Ga. – Freshman right-handed pitcher Kylie Macy tossed a five-inning perfect game in Georgia's 18-0 victory Friday evening. The Bulldogs defeated North Carolina 3-2 to begin the day at Jack Turner Stadium.
Macy's perfect game is the first since Chelsea Wilkinson and Kylie Bass combined for a perfect game at Georgia Tech on April 13, 2016. Macy struck out 13 of the 15 batters she faced including the first nine to begin the game. The last time a Bulldog struck out eight or more hitters was Wilkinson when she fanned eight Stephen F. Austin hitters on Feb. 20, 2016.
With Friday's wins, Georgia improves to 12-2 on the season.
No. 15 Georgia 3, North Carolina 2
Georgia scattered six hits, converting three runs. Redshirt-junior Jaiden Fields led the offense with two hits including the game-winning home run.
Sophomore Madison Kerpics worked two innings in her start in the circle, allowing a run on no hits. Fellow sophomore Britton Rogers improved to 5-0 as she earned the win in relief. Rogers pitched five innings out of the pen, allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts.
North Carolina (8-5) touched home first in the contest when a leadoff hit batsman worked her way around and scored on a sac fly to left, 1-0.
Georgia immediately answered backed with a pair runs to find the lead. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with one out. Sophomore Ellie Armistead knotted the game with a sac fly to right, 1-1. Senior Savana Sikes immediately followed with a base hit back up the middle to plate Fields and give the Bulldogs a 2-1 advantage going to the second.
Back-to-back two-out base hits for North Carolina tied the game in the top of the fourth at two-all.
Fields provided the go-ahead run in the form of a leadoff home run in the bottom of the sixth to put Georgia in front 3-2.
Rogers worked a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh to secure the victory over UNC to open the day.
No. 15 Georgia 18, Bryant 0
Macy worked five innings in her start and climbed to 2-0 in the circle. She fanned 13 of 15 batters she faced, walking none and surrendering no hits in the perfect game over Bryant (0-2).
The Bulldogs' 18 runs came on 13 hits. Junior Sydney Kuma picked up a career-best five RBI on her birthday including a grand slam. Freshman Lyndi Rae Davis had two hits, including her first career home run, and drove in four runs. Senior Savana Sikes also had two hits at the top of the Georgia order.
The nightcap started with a bang as Georgia put up five runs in the bottom of the first. A sac fly off the bat of Sara Mosley plated Sikes to put the Dogs on the board, 1-0. Three batters later, Sydney Chambley came in to score on an RBI fielder's choice from Fields. Following a walk to Kuma, Davis provided a three-run blast to left center, the first of her career, bringing the Bulldogs' lead to 5-0 in the opening frame.
Four more Georgia runs came in to score in the second. Senior Lacey Fincher provided a two-run single to make it 7-0 in favor of the Bulldogs. RBI fielder's choice from Fields and Armistead plated two more in the inning, bringing the Georgia lead to 9-0.
A nine spot in the fourth broke the game wide open for Georgia. The inning featured RBI hits from Kuma, Davis, and sophomore Hayley Eaton. The frame was highlighted by a birthday grand slam from Kuma who put up all five of her RBI in the frame. Georgia's final tally came to 18.
Macy picked up her 12th and 13th strikeouts to begin the fifth and the perfect game was secured on a popup to second to end the game.
Georgia will square off against Bryant and North Carolina Saturday beginning at 1 and 3:30 p.m. to close the Georgia Classic.
Coach Tony Baldwin
On Britton Rogers and managing the pitching load…
"I can't predict the future, but I don't imagine that right now we'll go down that path. We still have several pitchers that we're trying to use. Ideally, we would have not gone to Britton [Rogers] quite so early. Madison [Kerpics] was falling behind with some hitters in some at bats today. We felt like it was time to make a change, give them a different look. Madison [Kerpics] will be right back out there next game, next time. I have a lot of belief in her. Our objective is to win the game we're playing using our team, everybody on our team, to help that. We have to, certainly, manage the workload. [Britton Rogers] threw a really good game on Wednesday. We had to have a really light day yesterday. We've got a couple days off next week. Tomorrow, we'll have everybody ready to go to try to win the game that we're playing. We'll work on the recovery next week. Luckily, we have a little bit lighter of a week next week."
On Kylie Macy's perfect game…
"She was on the attack the whole game. She was filling up the strike zone and trusting her stuff. It was a good matchup for her today, but she throws a really good rise ball. We've said before that she's comparable to Chelsea Wilkinson when Chelsea Wilkinson was here with similar things. She has a long way to go before she can achieve the level of success that Chelsea [Wilkinson] had, but I think I might have heard that it was the first perfect game we've thrown since Chelsea [Wilkinson]. I think she had nine straight strikeouts tonight. I think eight might have been the high before, and that was Chelsea [Wilkinson] as well."
On having a strong game both hitting and pitching…
"I'm really proud of the team today. That was a hard-fought win. We certainly had opportunities to lose the North Carolina game. Instead, we made some plays, and we got the big hits that we needed to get the win. Really proud of them there and to bounce back and do it again. At the end of the day, tomorrow is a new day. The games count the same. We don't get to start with the lead, so we'll come back tomorrow and reset, get back to work and try to do the things that it takes to play winning softball."
Freshman Kylie Macy
On her perfect game and her teammates…
"They were great. I feel like they wanted it more than I did. They were cheering and everything. I heard them while I was pitching. They were good."
On her mindset during the game…
"I definitely thought about it, but when I was out there pitching, I was trying not to think about it. With everybody cheering, I was trying to block that out too. I was trying not to think about it while I was out there."
On her efficiency…
"I really just try and get ahead with the first pitch because once you get behind, that's when it goes downhill. I try to get the first pitch a strike and then Coach Chelsea [Wilkinson] does a great job pitch calling. I just throw what she calls, and it works."
Sophomore Britton Rogers
On dealing with the increased workload from last season…
"We all grew up throwing a lot of innings, so a lot of us, probably every single pitcher on our team, has been put in a position like this throughout their lifetime throwing a bunch of innings in high school ball and what not. So, I've done it before, but it obviously has been a while since I've done it. I think it comes down to conditioning, and we have an amazing strength coach. Then, it comes down to being efficient when I go out there and having an amazing defense to back me up, so I don't have to really carry the whole workload. I have teammates behind me that get it done for me."
On how she varies her pitches based on different opponents…
"Obviously North Carolina is a very talented team, and throughout the year that's what I've been working on is trying to get ahead. That's what I had a conversation with Coach Tony [Baldwin] and Coach Chelsea [Wilkinson] about, and we just found ways to highlight my strengths and attack early with those pitches. I wouldn't say that I'm throwing less expansion pitches. I just think that I'm throwing them a little bit more in the zone, more believable pitches coming out of my hand. It's working a lot better for me."
On the team's goal of being more efficient in getting out leadoff hitters…
"It's a very known fact that getting the leadoff batter out helps everybody in the long run. Before every single inning we have Coach JT [D'Amico] saying, 'Leadoff batter out!' I think it just comes down to really attacking when we get out there, going right into it, and not really playing around. It's just really going at them and attacking, making it a competitive game."
Macy's perfect game is the first since Chelsea Wilkinson and Kylie Bass combined for a perfect game at Georgia Tech on April 13, 2016. Macy struck out 13 of the 15 batters she faced including the first nine to begin the game. The last time a Bulldog struck out eight or more hitters was Wilkinson when she fanned eight Stephen F. Austin hitters on Feb. 20, 2016.
With Friday's wins, Georgia improves to 12-2 on the season.
No. 15 Georgia 3, North Carolina 2
Georgia scattered six hits, converting three runs. Redshirt-junior Jaiden Fields led the offense with two hits including the game-winning home run.
Sophomore Madison Kerpics worked two innings in her start in the circle, allowing a run on no hits. Fellow sophomore Britton Rogers improved to 5-0 as she earned the win in relief. Rogers pitched five innings out of the pen, allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts.
North Carolina (8-5) touched home first in the contest when a leadoff hit batsman worked her way around and scored on a sac fly to left, 1-0.
Georgia immediately answered backed with a pair runs to find the lead. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with one out. Sophomore Ellie Armistead knotted the game with a sac fly to right, 1-1. Senior Savana Sikes immediately followed with a base hit back up the middle to plate Fields and give the Bulldogs a 2-1 advantage going to the second.
Back-to-back two-out base hits for North Carolina tied the game in the top of the fourth at two-all.
Fields provided the go-ahead run in the form of a leadoff home run in the bottom of the sixth to put Georgia in front 3-2.
Rogers worked a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh to secure the victory over UNC to open the day.
No. 15 Georgia 18, Bryant 0
Macy worked five innings in her start and climbed to 2-0 in the circle. She fanned 13 of 15 batters she faced, walking none and surrendering no hits in the perfect game over Bryant (0-2).
The Bulldogs' 18 runs came on 13 hits. Junior Sydney Kuma picked up a career-best five RBI on her birthday including a grand slam. Freshman Lyndi Rae Davis had two hits, including her first career home run, and drove in four runs. Senior Savana Sikes also had two hits at the top of the Georgia order.
The nightcap started with a bang as Georgia put up five runs in the bottom of the first. A sac fly off the bat of Sara Mosley plated Sikes to put the Dogs on the board, 1-0. Three batters later, Sydney Chambley came in to score on an RBI fielder's choice from Fields. Following a walk to Kuma, Davis provided a three-run blast to left center, the first of her career, bringing the Bulldogs' lead to 5-0 in the opening frame.
Four more Georgia runs came in to score in the second. Senior Lacey Fincher provided a two-run single to make it 7-0 in favor of the Bulldogs. RBI fielder's choice from Fields and Armistead plated two more in the inning, bringing the Georgia lead to 9-0.
A nine spot in the fourth broke the game wide open for Georgia. The inning featured RBI hits from Kuma, Davis, and sophomore Hayley Eaton. The frame was highlighted by a birthday grand slam from Kuma who put up all five of her RBI in the frame. Georgia's final tally came to 18.
Macy picked up her 12th and 13th strikeouts to begin the fifth and the perfect game was secured on a popup to second to end the game.
Georgia will square off against Bryant and North Carolina Saturday beginning at 1 and 3:30 p.m. to close the Georgia Classic.
Coach Tony Baldwin
On Britton Rogers and managing the pitching load…
"I can't predict the future, but I don't imagine that right now we'll go down that path. We still have several pitchers that we're trying to use. Ideally, we would have not gone to Britton [Rogers] quite so early. Madison [Kerpics] was falling behind with some hitters in some at bats today. We felt like it was time to make a change, give them a different look. Madison [Kerpics] will be right back out there next game, next time. I have a lot of belief in her. Our objective is to win the game we're playing using our team, everybody on our team, to help that. We have to, certainly, manage the workload. [Britton Rogers] threw a really good game on Wednesday. We had to have a really light day yesterday. We've got a couple days off next week. Tomorrow, we'll have everybody ready to go to try to win the game that we're playing. We'll work on the recovery next week. Luckily, we have a little bit lighter of a week next week."
On Kylie Macy's perfect game…
"She was on the attack the whole game. She was filling up the strike zone and trusting her stuff. It was a good matchup for her today, but she throws a really good rise ball. We've said before that she's comparable to Chelsea Wilkinson when Chelsea Wilkinson was here with similar things. She has a long way to go before she can achieve the level of success that Chelsea [Wilkinson] had, but I think I might have heard that it was the first perfect game we've thrown since Chelsea [Wilkinson]. I think she had nine straight strikeouts tonight. I think eight might have been the high before, and that was Chelsea [Wilkinson] as well."
On having a strong game both hitting and pitching…
"I'm really proud of the team today. That was a hard-fought win. We certainly had opportunities to lose the North Carolina game. Instead, we made some plays, and we got the big hits that we needed to get the win. Really proud of them there and to bounce back and do it again. At the end of the day, tomorrow is a new day. The games count the same. We don't get to start with the lead, so we'll come back tomorrow and reset, get back to work and try to do the things that it takes to play winning softball."
Freshman Kylie Macy
On her perfect game and her teammates…
"They were great. I feel like they wanted it more than I did. They were cheering and everything. I heard them while I was pitching. They were good."
On her mindset during the game…
"I definitely thought about it, but when I was out there pitching, I was trying not to think about it. With everybody cheering, I was trying to block that out too. I was trying not to think about it while I was out there."
On her efficiency…
"I really just try and get ahead with the first pitch because once you get behind, that's when it goes downhill. I try to get the first pitch a strike and then Coach Chelsea [Wilkinson] does a great job pitch calling. I just throw what she calls, and it works."
Sophomore Britton Rogers
On dealing with the increased workload from last season…
"We all grew up throwing a lot of innings, so a lot of us, probably every single pitcher on our team, has been put in a position like this throughout their lifetime throwing a bunch of innings in high school ball and what not. So, I've done it before, but it obviously has been a while since I've done it. I think it comes down to conditioning, and we have an amazing strength coach. Then, it comes down to being efficient when I go out there and having an amazing defense to back me up, so I don't have to really carry the whole workload. I have teammates behind me that get it done for me."
On how she varies her pitches based on different opponents…
"Obviously North Carolina is a very talented team, and throughout the year that's what I've been working on is trying to get ahead. That's what I had a conversation with Coach Tony [Baldwin] and Coach Chelsea [Wilkinson] about, and we just found ways to highlight my strengths and attack early with those pitches. I wouldn't say that I'm throwing less expansion pitches. I just think that I'm throwing them a little bit more in the zone, more believable pitches coming out of my hand. It's working a lot better for me."
On the team's goal of being more efficient in getting out leadoff hitters…
"It's a very known fact that getting the leadoff batter out helps everybody in the long run. Before every single inning we have Coach JT [D'Amico] saying, 'Leadoff batter out!' I think it just comes down to really attacking when we get out there, going right into it, and not really playing around. It's just really going at them and attacking, making it a competitive game."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Rogers, Britton (5-0)
L: Lilli Backes (2-3)
Batting:
RBI: Katie Perkins 1 ; Alex Brown 1
SH: Taylor Greene 1
SF: Katie Perkins 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Aneshia Jordan 1 ; Carsyn Snead 1
SB: Aneshia Jordan 1 ; Skyler Brooks 1 ; Carsyn Snead 1
CS: Alex Brown 1
HBP: Taylor Greene 1
Batting:
HR: Fields, Jaiden 1
RBI: Sikes, Savana 1 ; Fields, Jaiden 1 ; Armistead, Ellie 1
SH: Armistead, Ellie 1
SF: Armistead, Ellie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kuma, Sydney 1 ; Fields, Jaiden 2
SB: Sikes, Savana 1 ; Landrum, CJ 1
HBP: Bordeau, Payden 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/1B
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF
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