University of Georgia
#18 Kentucky
No. 2 UGA Defeats No. 18 UK, 6-1
April 08, 2011 | Softball
April 8, 2011
ATHENS, Ga. - Second-ranked Georgia tied a school record with nine extra-base hits as the Bulldogs opened a Southeastern Conference series against 18th-ranked Kentucky with a 6-1 victory on Friday night at Jack Turner Softball Stadium.
Georgia (33-6, 9-5 SEC) tied the extra-base hits record with two home runs from senior Alisa Goler and seven doubles from four other Bulldogs to hand SEC Eastern Division leader Kentucky (27-8, 11-4 SEC) just its fourth loss in league play. The only other time in school history Georgia produced nine extra-base hits in a game came against Radford in NCAA Regional action last year (May 23) when the Bulldogs set a then school record with six doubles.
For Goler, it marked the ninth time in her career she has hit two home runs in a game, raised her season total to a team-leading 15 and increased her UGA career record to 57. The two long balls also increased Goler's career extra-base hits total to 109 putting her just one shy of the school record of 110 held by Kim Wendland (2002-05).
Behind Goler's lead, Georgia received two doubles from three players, senior Taylor Schlopy, senior Brianna Hesson and junior Kristyn Sandberg while junior Ashley Razey came away with a double of her own to help set the new two-base record.
From the circle, junior Erin Arevalo (2-1) pitched into the sixth allowing just an unearned run on a single from Brittany Cervantes in the first en route to notching the victory. Arevalo struck out five Wildcats before giving way to sophomore reliever Alison Owen, who worked the final 1.2 innings striking out three.
Georgia quickly answered Kentucky's lone run in the bottom of the first when Goler blasted her first home run to right off of Wildcat starter Chanda Bell. Bell went on to pitch four innings surrendering all six of UGA's runs to fall to 10-5.
Goler took Bell deep for the second time to lead off the third. That inning continued with Hesson narrowly missing back-to-back home runs with a double off the top of the wall in left center. Three batters later, Sandberg provided a two-out RBI double to right center.
In the fourth, Schlopy notched a two-out double to right center and Goler followed with a walk. After freshman pinch runner Tiesha Reed entered for Goler, Hesson recorded her second double to right center to drive in both runners.
Sandberg's other double came in the first inning while Razey recorded her double to lead off the fifth, and Schlopy tied the extra-base hits record and established the new doubles record with a double in the sixth.
Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. ET, and it will be aired nationally on ESPNU with Cara Capuano and Michele Smith calling the action.
Saturday's contest will also be Georgia's second-annual Strike Out Cancer event. The Bulldogs will wear pink jerseys, and a silent auction for the jerseys will begin when the gates open at Noon. Starting bids are $150.00 and the person with the winning bid must be present and pay on game day by cash or check. The silent auction will close at the end of the third inning and winners will be announced in the fourth.
Kentucky will participate in the Strike Out Cancer event by wearing pink belts, socks and helmets, and the first 500 fans will receive pink Georgia softball t-shirts. Additionally, the first 250 youth softball players will receive pink glitter head bands.
Last year, Georgia's inaugural Strike Out Cancer event raised over $6,500 for the Athens Regional Breast Health Center, who will again be the beneficiary of this year's donations.
