No. 7 Georgia defeats Eagles 10-3

ATHENS, Ga. – Seventh-ranked Georgia softball won its midweek series with in-state foe Georgia Southern Wednesday evening, 10-3.

The Bulldogs (27-2) scored in every inning and outhit the Eagles (19-9) 13-to-6. Sophomore second baseman Justice Milz scattered three hits to lead the Georgia offense. Five other Bulldogs each had two hits in the contest while sophomore first baseman Alysen Febrey drove in three runs.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Mary Wilson Avant pitched three scoreless innings in her second start of the season. She allowed just one hit and fanned five. Freshman right-hander Lauren Mathis pitched two innings in relief in the circle, allowing both Eagle runs. Sophomore righty Amanda Ablan (2-1) earned the win as she pitched the final two innings, allowing a run.

The Bulldogs took a 2-0 in the first inning on a double off the bat of Febrey into right center.

Sophomore center fielder Ciara Bryan led off the bottom of the second with a triple to right center. She immediately scored on a groundout by freshman catcher Jessica Morgan, adding to the lead, 3-0.

Georgia pushed three runs across in the plate in the bottom of the third inning. The stanza began with a hit-by-pitch and back-to-back base hits to load the bases. Morgan singled to center, driving in pinch runner Tyler Armistead. A wild pitch in the dirt scored senior right fielder Kendall Burton. A dropped fly ball off the bat of senior left fielder Cortni Emanuel plated Bryan, lengthening the lead to 6-0 after three.

Two runs came in to score on a base hit up the middle by Alesha Mann in the Eagles’ half of the fifth, narrowing the Bulldog lead to 7-2.

A sacrifice fly off the bat of Febrey widened the margin back to six for Georgia in the bottom of the inning, 8-2.

Georgia Southern’s Logan Harrell hit a solo home run to left in the top of the sixth, narrowing the lead to 8-3.

The Bulldogs continued their scoring streak into the sixth with two more runs. The first scored when Emanuel stole second and the throw to the bag went array, allowing Morgan to come home. The next batter, Milz, reached on a fielding error by the first baseman, extending the inning and plating Emanuel, 10-3.

Georgia takes to the road this weekend for a three-game Southeastern Conference series with #21 Mississippi State. The series begins Friday at 7 p.m., EDT.

Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer

"I think we did a good job just coming out and playing softball. Allison did great tonight and had 3 RBIs, Justice came out and batted incredibly well, and Mary Wilson started us out excellently on the mound. Going on the road this weekend won't be very different for us because we're just going to play softball. We are really looking to take the positives out of every day, these girls can be upset by the outcome but what really matters is the process."

Sophomore 2B Justice Milz

"I just kept thinking about the weather conditions tonight and knew I just needed to keep hitting groundballs up the middle and that's what happened. The weather doesn't change our game much we just have to maintain a solid mindset through the cold and the wind. My confidence has really skyrocketed going into Mississippi State because I've gotten out of my slump and I'm really excited about it."

Sophomore RHP Mary Wilson Avant

"I think going out there and being able to command my pitches gave me confidence for the rest of the game. Also, knowing that my defense will always have my back. I think our reps, our hitters, and our defense doing everything we need to do has really boosted our confidence going into our series against Mississippi State. We can always keep our energy high, that's really the main thing we can work on this week."