University of Georgia Athletics
Saturday, April 2
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
4:30 p.m.
University of Georgia
31-5, 5-2
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Alabama
29-5, 6-4
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Georgia
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5
8
1
Alabama
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6
0
Bulldogs Take Game One Over No. 4 Alabama, 5-3
April 02, 2022 | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The 15th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs defeated No. 4 Alabama Saturday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium in game one of the series, 5-3.
Georgia climbs to 31-5 on the season and 5-2 in SEC play. Georgia has won all three SEC series openers this season. The win snaps an eight-game losing skid to the Crimson Tide.
"I'm really proud of our team," said head coach Tony Baldwin. "I thought we were competitive and stayed present the entire game. Madison [Kerpics] was outstanding and in control for seven innings. I thought Chelsea [Wilkinson] and J.T. [D'Amico] had a really good game plan and made some really good adjustments as the game went along. It's a good win for sure. Now we need to recover and get ready to go again tomorrow."
Sophomore Madison Kerpics (12-2) went the distance in the circle, pitching seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out six Alabama batters.
The Bulldogs' offense scattered eight hits, led by two from redshirt-junior Jaiden Fields. Junior Sydney Kuma knocked a two-run home run in the sixth that proved to be the difference maker in the contest.
Georgia was sat down in order the first time through its lineup but broke through with three runs on four hits in the top of the fourth. With one out, Fields registered Georgia's first hit then Sara Mosley followed with a walk. A Lacey Fincher double to the wall in left center broke the 0-0 tie. Jayda Kearney dropped a single into left, plating the second run. Aniyah Black got a two-out single past a diving second baseman, driving in the third run of the inning for the Bulldogs, 3-0.
Ally Shipman hit a one-out solo home run in the bottom of the inning to put the Tide on the board, 3-1.
The Tide (29-5, 6-4) rallied with two outs in the home half of the fifth, loading the bases. Kerpics worked out of the jam unscathed to preserve the two-run lead.
A two-out, two-run home run to dead center off the bat of Kuma widened Georgia's lead to 5-1 in the top of the sixth. It was Kuma's eighth home run of the season.
With two out in the bottom of the inning, a two-run double kept the inning alive and sliced Georgia's lead to two, 5-3.
Kerpics slammed the door shut on the Crimson Tide in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win in game one.
Game two between the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide is set for Sunday afternoon. First pitch on SEC Network is slated for 4 p.m., EDT.
Georgia climbs to 31-5 on the season and 5-2 in SEC play. Georgia has won all three SEC series openers this season. The win snaps an eight-game losing skid to the Crimson Tide.
"I'm really proud of our team," said head coach Tony Baldwin. "I thought we were competitive and stayed present the entire game. Madison [Kerpics] was outstanding and in control for seven innings. I thought Chelsea [Wilkinson] and J.T. [D'Amico] had a really good game plan and made some really good adjustments as the game went along. It's a good win for sure. Now we need to recover and get ready to go again tomorrow."
Sophomore Madison Kerpics (12-2) went the distance in the circle, pitching seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out six Alabama batters.
The Bulldogs' offense scattered eight hits, led by two from redshirt-junior Jaiden Fields. Junior Sydney Kuma knocked a two-run home run in the sixth that proved to be the difference maker in the contest.
Georgia was sat down in order the first time through its lineup but broke through with three runs on four hits in the top of the fourth. With one out, Fields registered Georgia's first hit then Sara Mosley followed with a walk. A Lacey Fincher double to the wall in left center broke the 0-0 tie. Jayda Kearney dropped a single into left, plating the second run. Aniyah Black got a two-out single past a diving second baseman, driving in the third run of the inning for the Bulldogs, 3-0.
Ally Shipman hit a one-out solo home run in the bottom of the inning to put the Tide on the board, 3-1.
The Tide (29-5, 6-4) rallied with two outs in the home half of the fifth, loading the bases. Kerpics worked out of the jam unscathed to preserve the two-run lead.
A two-out, two-run home run to dead center off the bat of Kuma widened Georgia's lead to 5-1 in the top of the sixth. It was Kuma's eighth home run of the season.
With two out in the bottom of the inning, a two-run double kept the inning alive and sliced Georgia's lead to two, 5-3.
Kerpics slammed the door shut on the Crimson Tide in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win in game one.
Game two between the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide is set for Sunday afternoon. First pitch on SEC Network is slated for 4 p.m., EDT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kerpics, Madison (12-2)
L: Montana Fouts (15-2)
Batting:
2B: Fincher, Lacey 1 ; Armistead, Ellie 1
HR: Kuma, Sydney 1
RBI: Fincher, Lacey 1 ; Kearney, Jayda 1 ; Kuma, Sydney 2 ; Black, Aniyah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fields, Jaiden 1 ; Mosley, Sara 2 ; Fincher, Lacey 1 ; Kuma, Sydney 1
Batting:
2B: Bailey Dowling 1 ; Megan Bloodworth 1
HR: Ally Shipman 1
RBI: Ally Shipman 1 ; Megan Bloodworth 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Ally Shipman 1 ; Kali Heivilin 1 ; Jenna Lord 1
SB: Dallis Goodnight 1 ; Savannah Woodard 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballINF
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