Sean Stevenson
Associate Sports Communications Director (Volleyball, Softball)
University of Georgia Athletic Association
The third-ranked Georgia softball team beat in-state foe Mercer 8-1 on Wednesday in front of 1,102 fans at Jack Turner Stadium.
Georgia eclipses the 30-win mark with the victory, improving to 30-6 on the season.
Georgia scattered 12 hits in the contest, led by Jaydyn Goodwin's 3-for-3, two-double game. Sara Mosley and Sydney Kuma each picked up two hits, while Mosley drove in three of Georgia’s runs. Eight different Bulldogs recorded a hit Wednesday.
Riley Orcutt pitched one and a third innings in her start, allowing no hits, one strikeout, and two walks. Shelby Walters (6-2) earned the win out of the pen, pitching two and two-thirds scoreless innings. She allowed two hits and struck out three. Rachel Gibson pitched one inning while Destin Howard pitched two.
The Bulldogs broke through the scoreless draw in the bottom of the third. Back-to-back base hits to lead off the inning put two on. Pinch runner Hannah Davila scored on a Jayda Kearney single through the six hole to put Georgia on the board. Goodwin’s second double of the game drove in Mosley to bring the lead to 2-0. Sydney Chambley flied out to left, good enough for a sac fly to score Kearney. Goodwin scored from second on an infield single up the middle by Kuma to complete the four-run third.
Mosley fouled out to right in the bottom of the fourth for another sac fly, this time scoring Dallis Goodnight, to lengthen the lead to 5-0.
An RBI groundout put Mercer (15-19) on the board in the top of the sixth inning, 5-1.
Mosley crushed a two-run home run to left in the bottom of the inning, widening the lead to 7-1. Marisa Miller poked an RBI single up the middle to bring the tally to 8-1.
Mercer loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, but Howard worked out of the jam to secure the Georgia win.
Georgia hits the road for a three-game at No. 6/4 Tennessee this weekend. The series begins Friday in Knoxville at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.
Head Coach Tony Baldwin
On Wednesday’s performance...
"I think the biggest thing about tonight was that we bounced back and played Georgia softball. We really took care of all the phases of the game. We had some really good at-bats where the outcome didn't turn out the way that we would've liked, but they were doing the right things. That's the key, and that's what these midweek games are all about. I thought the energy was good. I thought we got a lot of people in, and they were ready for their opportunities. It was a good start heading into the weekend, and we'll get back to work tomorrow to continue to work out. Then we'll head up to Knoxville and see what we can do up there."
On how tonight's performance prepares the team for the Tennessee series this weekend...
"Our mantra has been that tonight is the most important game of the year because we're playing it, and if we're playing it, then it's important. And if it's important, then we want to compete and find joy in that competition to make this the best part of the day. I thought they did a good job with that and embraced it. It was good weather, and we had a nice crowd for a midweek game, and we had the opportunity to play softball, so let's go take advantage of that. I thought they did a good job with that."
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