University of Georgia
Kennesaw State
No. 4 UGA Holds Stadium Dedication, Defeats KSU 6-1
April 27, 2011 | Softball
April 27, 2011
ATHENS, Ga. - The fourth-ranked University of Georgia softball team officially dedicated its home field as Jack Turner Softball Stadium on Wednesday prior to defeating Kennesaw State, 6-1.
Georgia (41-7) freshman Morgan Montemayor (19-3) led the Bulldog to victory by carrying a no hitter into the fifth before allowing Kennesaw State (28-23) its only run on two hits while striking out seven. Montemayor was relieved by sophomore Alison Owen to start the six and Owen worked the final two innings allowing just one hit with two strikeouts.
The Bulldogs scored single runs in the first and second innings off of Owl starter Abbey Meixel, who would take the loss to fall to 7-6. In the first, senior Megan Wiggins drew a walk, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a single to left from junior Ashley Razey. In the second, senior Laura Trout drew a walk, stole second and scored on a double to left center from junior Ashley Pauly.
Georgia extended its lead to 6-0 with four runs over the next two innings off of KSU reliever Catherine Tarvin. The Dogs picked up three of those runs in the third. After loading the bases, Trout notched a sacrifice fly to shallow right on a ball caught by the second baseman. Next, Pauly reached on a fielding error, and additional throwing error on the play allowed a second run in the inning to score. With runners left on the corners, Pauly and junior Brittney Hubbard executed a double steal with Hubbard scoring the third run.
The run in the fourth inning was scored in a similar fashion to the run in the first. Wiggins reached on a single, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout to second from senior Brianna Hesson.
Montemayor kept KSU hitless until the fifth. With two outs and a runner on first after a walk, Sara Sikes singled up the middle to end the no hit bid. The next batter, Ashlee Burkett, then ended the shutout bid as well with a RBI single to left.
Wednesday's stadium dedication and ribbon cutting was held to official name the softball facility Jack Turner Softball Stadium, named for the late Jack Turner thanks in part to gifts from himself and his son Jimmy Turner.
Up next, Georgia (14-6 SEC) returns to the road and Southeastern Conference play by traveling to Auburn (34-14, 11-11 SEC) for a three-game series with the Tigers starting on Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
Quotes From The Jack Turner Softball Dedication & Ribbon Cutting:
University of Georgia President Michael F. Adams:
"I would simply say if you were to look around for someone and some family who supported the entirety of what we do here at UGA, you would be hard pressed to find a family who has been more committed to this University than have they."
"Jack was not only one of our most loyal alumni and supporters, but he has been a counselor to several presidents of the university, including myself. He and his wife Nancy have attended many special occasions with me and my family and have been at our home for many special occasions and we still miss them every day. Not only did he and his family give of their resources, but they gave copious amounts of time, expertise, and counsel. He served on the UGA Foundation board, the Alumni Association board, and on the Athletic Association board, and I was pleased to appoint him to that. When I talk about public-private partnerships, we see the good things that get done when public state support is merged with private loyalty support, this great stadium and today this great university are emblematic of that great public-private partnership."
"A lot of people come and go in all of our lifetimes, and I simply want to say that we still miss Jack and Nancy Turner and are deeply grateful to this day for their contributions to this institution in every possible way. Meeting Jack's son and daughter-in-law, I hope they feel an incredible sense of pride as they should as we will cut this ribbon in a few moments with the senior members of the softball team."
"I certainly want to congratulate the softball team on the extraordinary season they have had so far. Coach [Lu] Harris-Champer and all those who work with her who deserve our congratulations and thanks in every way. But most of all this is the Turner's day, and I'm honored to have some small role in helping make more meaningful to the university community the memory of Jack Turner."
University of Georgia Director of Athletics Greg McGarity:
"It is indeed my honor to be here on this very special occasion. This is a great way to honor an exemplary supporter of the athletic program in Jack Turner. Jack's fingerprints are on so many activities, programs, and history in the athletic program, especially this complex and more specifically for women's athletic programs. He loved the University of Georgia and especially its women's athletic programs."
"We all know Atlanta has its own Turner stadium as the home of the Braves, and now Athens has its own Turner Stadium to be our home. As we all know, there's no place like home."
