KNOXVILLE, Tennessee – At Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, the third-ranked Georgia softball team defeated No. 6/4 Tennessee 3-2 on Saturday to square the weekend SEC series.
Georgia’s current record is 31-7 overall and 7-4 in SEC play. Georgia ends Tennessee’s 16-game home winning streak that dates back to last season by handing the Volunteers their first home setback of the year. May 7 of the previous season was the Lady Vols’ final home defeat.
In her two and a third innings of work, Madison Kerpics gave up two runs on four hits. Pitching in relief, Shelby Walters (7-2) won the victory by giving up only one hit over four and a half scoreless innings. She struck out five and did not walk any. Out of the 15 hitters she faced, she retired 14.
The Bulldogs were outhit 5-4 despite only managing four hits during the contest. The only runs scored by Georgia came from a triple by Emily Digby in the second inning and a home run by Sarah Gordon in the fifth.
In the second, Sydney Chambley set the tone with a leadoff single and a walk to Sydney Kuma. Digby’s triple down the right field line scored both runs, giving Georgia a 2-0 lead.
The bottom of the third inning saw two Lady Vol runners on after back-to-back hits. The game was tied at two runs apiece after the first Tennessee run was scored on an RBI hit through the left side and the second by a sac fly.
The Bulldogs took a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning thanks to Gordon’s leadoff home run. The
blast proved to be the game-winner.After Gordon’s go-ahead home run, Walters retired the next nine batters, including striking out the side in the seventh, to secure the victory for Georgia.
Sunday’s rubber match is slated for an 11 a.m. first pitch live on ESPN2.
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