Alabama
Georgia
Softball Splits SEC Doubleheader with Georgia
3/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 13, 2010
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
ATHENS, Ga. - In the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams the No. 7 ranked Alabama softball team split its doubleheader with No. 4 Georgia Saturday at the UGA Softball Field. The Bulldogs earned the victory in game one by the score of 3-0 but the Crimson Tide rallied to an 8-5 win in the nightcap. After the day Alabama moves to 16-6 overall and 1-1 in SEC play while Georgia posts a 19-2 record and a 1-1 mark in league action.
GAME ONE
The No. 7 ranked Alabama softball team opened Southeastern Conference play with a 3-0 loss to No. 4 Georgia Saturday afternoon at the UGA Softball Stadium. After four innings of no-hit softball the Bulldogs plated two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to earn the series opening victory. After the loss the Crimson Tide moves to 15-6 overall and 0-1 in SEC play while the Bulldogs improve to 19-1 on the season and open 1-0 in league play.
With neither team unable to collect a hit through the first four innings it was the host Bulldogs that finally broke through.
The first two hits of the ball game were all Georgia would need to get on the board. After Ashley Razey walked, Amberlie Saxton hit a sharp ground ball through the left side into left-center for a double to score pinch-runner Macie Couey from first. Saxton was then promptly brought home on a single up the middle off the bat of Ashley Pauly.
Alabama immediately tried to comeback in the sixth as leadoff hitter Whitney Larsen hit a shot that hit off the top of the wall and bounced back into play for a double. The Crimson Tide was not able to take advantage of its first hit of the ball game though as Georgia got out of the inning unscathed.
Georgia extended its lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth when Kristyn Sandberg blooped a seeing-eye single on a full count pitch over first base to score pinch-runner Brittany Hubbard from second.
Erin Arevalo improved to 12-1 on the season, surrendering just one hit, walking five and striking out two for Georgia. Alabama junior hurler Kelsi Dunne (6-4) was tagged with the loss. Dunne allowed all three runs on five hits while striking out six and walking two.
GAME TWO
After the two teams went back and forth always seeming to answer the call Alabama junior Whitney Larsen provided the final blow with a three-run homer in the sixth to hand the Crimson Tide an 8-5 victory in the second game of the doubleheader. With the win Alabama improves to 16-6 overall and 1-1 in SEC play while Georgia moves to 19-2 on the season and 1-1 in league play.
After not being able to plate a run in the first game, the Crimson Tide immediately got on the board in the first inning in game two.
Freshman Kayla Braud got the Tide off to the fast start by drawing a walk on an illegal pitch. The newcomer promptly stole second and advanced to third on a groundout off the bat of sophomore Cassie Reilly-Boccia. Braud was able to score on a wild pitch.
Georgia answered right back with three runs in the bottom half of the frame. After a throwing error by Braud and a walk to Alisa Goler, Brianna Hesson hit a three-run shot over the right field wall
The Bulldogs added one more on a solo shot by Taylor Schlopy but this time the Tide answered to knot the score at four with three runs in the third.
Braud once again got the Tide going, getting aboard on a bunt single to second. Reilly-Boccia then walked and junior Whitney Larsen drilled a grounder through the left side to score the rookie. Alabama would then take advantage of two illegal pitches that scored Reilly-Boccia and Larsen on back-to-back pitches.
The Tide would regain the lead in the fourth off a great at-bat by sophomore Olivia Gibson. With a 3-2 count and after fouling off some pitches deep in foul territory she connected on a line shot that just missed the scoreboard in left field for her second home run of the season.
Again the home team would rally and this time, evening the score at five. Megan Wiggins knotted things up with a hit up the middle that scored Ashley Pauly from second.
Laure Sewell (5-0) earned the win on the strength of 2 2/3 innings of relief. The newcomer allowed one run on two hits and struck out three. Junior Kelsi Dunne earned her fifth career save by striking out five in 1 2/3 innings.
Both teams collected seven hits apiece. Braud paced the Tide at the plate with three hits and scored three runs. Larsen banged out two hits and drove in four.
The two teams will meet in the rubber game tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (ET).
