University of Georgia
Florida
Rally Comes Up Short; Georgia Falls 4-3
April 18, 2015 | Softball
Highlights from Georgia softball's doubleheader against Florida on senior day.
April 18, 2015
ATHENS, Ga. -- A seventh inning rally fell just short as the No. 11/12 Georgia softball team dropped a 4-3 decision to the No. 2/1 Florida Gators in the second game of a doubleheader in front of a packed house at Jack Turner Stadium in Athens, Ga. With the loss, Georgia dropped to 35-13 on the year and 11-9 in Southeastern Conference play. Florida improved to 43-4 overall and 13-4 in the SEC. The game marked the annual Pink Out. Fans were encouraged to make a donation and bid on the pink jerseys the players wore during the game. The event raised $4,608 for the Athens Regional Breast Health Center.
Chelsea Wilkinson (21-8) suffered the loss. She allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits in the complete-game performance. She struck out six batters. Aleshia Ocasio (15-3) got the win after allowing three runs on six hits. She struck out five batters. Delanie Gourley earned her third save of the year after striking out each of the three batters she faced in the seventh.
Florida took an early lead, going up 3-0 in the top of the first inning on a three-run home run by Bailey Castro.
The Gators looked to add to their lead in the top of the fifth inning, getting a runner on with one out. Paige Wilson made a highlight reel play, making a running, over-the-shoulder grab in shallow right center before doubling off the runner at first for the final out of the inning.
Riding the momentum of the defensive play in the top of the inning, Alex Hugo put Georgia on the board with a solo home run to left center. It was her 17th home run of the year and second of the day. With one out, Anna Swafford missed a home run by about six inches off the wall in right but had to settle for a single as the ball bounced back to the fielder. Kaylee Puailoa followed with single up the middle that moved Swafford to third. With runners at second and third, Katie Browne hit into a fielder's choice, but the throw to the plate beat the runner for out number two. Georgia left two stranded as a pop up ended the inning.
Florida tacked on a run in the top of the seventh to take a 4-1 lead. An error, a groundout and a wild pitch put a runner at third before a groundout plated the run.
Georgia didn't go away quietly as Hugo and Iosefa led off the bottom of the seventh with back-to-back home runs. Hugo's bomb, her second of the game and third of the day, went to center. Iosefa's home run was a monster shot over the scoreboard and the trees in left field. It was Iosefa's second home run of the day. The rally came up short as the final out was recorded, resulting in a 4-3 loss.
The Bulldogs look to avoid a sweep tomorrow, April 19 at 1 p.m., when it hosts Florida in the final game of the series. The game is set to air on ESPNU.
