Georgia Bulldogs Claim Softball Victory in Athens Regional

After winning the first two games of the Athens Regional, the Bulldogs needed only one win on Sunday to advance to the NCAA Super Regional. The Red and Black wasted no time in claiming their 50th victory of the season, as the Georgia softball team never trailed in a six-inning victory over Florida State.

Morgan Montemayor once again was in the circle, where she carded her third win in as many days with a complete-game three-hitter in which she surrendered only one earned run. By the time Montemayor took the field in the bottom of the first frame, the Bulldogs already were in the lead after a leadoff double by left fielder Megan Wiggins, a run-scoring single and a stolen base by center fielder Taylor Schlopy, and throwing errors by catcher Celeste Gomez and center fielder Courtney Senas added up to a 2-0 Georgia advantage after the top of the opening inning.

The Red and Black added four more in the second stanza, once again beginning with a Wiggins double. After Schlopy was plunked and third baseman Alisa Goler drew a four-pitch walk, the bases were loaded for right fielder Brianna Hesson, who brought a run home with a base hit to get a two-hit, two-error, four-run canto underway.

The Tribe plated an unearned run in the bottom of the inning and added another one base at a time in the third stanza, but the Bulldogs added to their advantage in the top of the fifth frame with a first-pitch solo home run by designated player Brittney Hubbard. With two outs away in the sixth stanza, first baseman Kristyn Sandberg walked, Hubbard notched a first-pitch single, and shortstop Laura Trout brought them both home with a double. A base hit by second baseman Ashley Pauly plated the remaining baserunner to give the Red and Black an eight-run advantage, causing the mercy rule to be invoked at the conclusion of the canto.

The victory gave Georgia the program’s fifth NCAA Regional win and its fourth straight visit to the second round of the softball playoffs, where the Bulldogs will meet the Baylor Bears with a trip to the Women’s College World Series on the line. The Red and Black are two wins away from a return trip to Oklahoma City, and, as we all know, you can’t spell "Super Regional" without U-G-A.

Go ‘Dawgs!