University of Georgia Athletics
Saturday, March 20
Athens, Ga.
5:30 p.m.
University of Georgia
20-3, 1-1
14
vs
10
Missouri
20-5, 1-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Missouri
0
2
1
3
4
0
0
10
11
0
Georgia
8
0
3
1
2
0
X
14
15
5
Georgia Evens Series, Defeats Missouri 14-10
March 20, 2021 | Softball
ATHENS, Ga. – The second game of the Southeastern Conference-opening series between the No. 19 Georgia Bulldogs and No. 16 Missouri Tigers saw the teams combine for 24 runs and 26 hits. Georgia prevailed in the contest 14-10, evening the series at a game apiece.
The Georgia (20-3, 1-1) offense scored a season-high 14 runs on a season-high 15 hits. Georgia knocked five home runs in the game with four coming in the first inning.
Six different Georgia hitters recorded multiple hits with sophomore Sara Mosley four 3-for-4 on the night. Redshirt-sophomore Jaiden Fields knocked in four RBI while junior Lacey Fincher and freshman Jayda Kearney each tallied three.
In circle, senior Lauren Mathis pitched two-and-a-third innings, allowing three runs on three hits. Georgia used four total pitchers. Mary Wilson Avant (10-1) was awarded the win in the circle, pitching the final two innings, not allowing a run and just two hits.
Missouri (20-5, 1-1) started the game by putting the first three batters of the contest on base with no out. Mathis and the defense were able to wiggle out of the early jam thanks to two force plays at home plate and an infield popup.
Georgia put the first two runners on via walks in the bottom of the inning. Back-to-back singles from Fincher and Mosley each plated a run to give Georgia a 2-0 lead. Fields stepped in and blasted a three-run home run to widen the lead to 5-0. The homer started a string of back-to-back-to-back home runs from Fields, freshman Sydney Chambley, and Kearney (first career home run) to put Georgia ahead 7-0. In her second at bat of the inning, sophomore Sydney Kuma knocked the fourth home run of the frame to put the Bulldogs out in front 8-0.
The last time Georgia hit three-straight home runs was against No. 2 Florida in 2018 in Athens.
Missouri got two runs back in the top of the second on a solo home run and an unearned run on a two-out error, 8-2. Another solo home run in the top of the third for the Tigers narrowed Georgia's lead to 8-3.
With a pair of Bulldogs on base in the bottom of the third, Kearney lined a double down the right field line to plate both runners and bring Georgia's lead back to seven, 10-3. She then tagged up and took third on a flyout then scored on a wild pitch, 11-3.
The Tigers plated three unearned runs in the fourth, cutting back into the lead, 11-6.
A sacrifice fly off the bat of Fields brought Georgia's lead back to six at 12-6 in the bottom of the fourth.
Four more unearned runs for Missouri touched home in the top of the fifth to make it a two-run game, 12-10.
Fincher knocked the fifth Bulldog home run of the game, a two-run home run to right, to bring the lead back to four, 14-10.
Avant entered to pitch to begin the sixth and shut out the Tigers the remainder of the game en route to the victory for the Bulldogs.
The rubber game of the series is set for 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Jack Turner Stadium between the Bulldogs and Tigers.
Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer
On the offensive success of the team…
"I think it was really fun. I was really proud of the offense for coming out and sticking to the approach and getting their swing off on good pitches. I thought Sydney [Kuma] did a great job in the leadoff, taking her walk, and I thought she had some really great base running. From there, it just kind of took off like wildfire tonight. Lacey [Fincher's] clutch at bat, her last at bat, was awesome to get us two more, Savana [Sikes'] with the two out single getting in front of her. I thought [Sara] Mosley had a really great night tonight, and then you get that kind of performance out of your lower half of the order with Jaiden Fields and Sydney Chambley and Jayda Kearney, in her first SEC appearance. It was really good."
On what the win meant for the team…
"Yeah, they're good team. They're not going to come out and lay down, and they came out swinging too. That's what good teams do, and that's part of being in the SEC. You just have to continue to do what you do and focus on what you do well and just keep after it and keep competing. That's why you play the game the entire game."
On the SEC joining together for the All for Alex and Geuax Teal campaigns…
"The coolest thing about today is that every team in our conference is wearing teal to represent the fight against ovarian cancer for women out there. We have so many strong women. Women want to tough everything out, but you can't with this one. You have to get your ovarian cancer screening and not just be tough. Get out and get the screening and make sure that you're okay because it's something that's a silent killer of women. I'm just really proud of Beth Torina at LSU for really working to get this all across our entire conference. It's very important, and I'm just really thankful to be a part of such a great conference with so many great coaches.
Jayda Kearney
On expectations going into her first at bat…
"At that point, I just wanted to get a base bit and keep the rally going. I wasn't trying to do too much, but I just happened to get all of the ball, and it went over."
On getting the final out of the game…
"It felt great. I didn't want to let any ball drop. I wanted to make sure that we got out of the inning as fast as possible. I just focused really hard to get that catch and be there for my team."
The Georgia (20-3, 1-1) offense scored a season-high 14 runs on a season-high 15 hits. Georgia knocked five home runs in the game with four coming in the first inning.
Six different Georgia hitters recorded multiple hits with sophomore Sara Mosley four 3-for-4 on the night. Redshirt-sophomore Jaiden Fields knocked in four RBI while junior Lacey Fincher and freshman Jayda Kearney each tallied three.
In circle, senior Lauren Mathis pitched two-and-a-third innings, allowing three runs on three hits. Georgia used four total pitchers. Mary Wilson Avant (10-1) was awarded the win in the circle, pitching the final two innings, not allowing a run and just two hits.
Missouri (20-5, 1-1) started the game by putting the first three batters of the contest on base with no out. Mathis and the defense were able to wiggle out of the early jam thanks to two force plays at home plate and an infield popup.
Georgia put the first two runners on via walks in the bottom of the inning. Back-to-back singles from Fincher and Mosley each plated a run to give Georgia a 2-0 lead. Fields stepped in and blasted a three-run home run to widen the lead to 5-0. The homer started a string of back-to-back-to-back home runs from Fields, freshman Sydney Chambley, and Kearney (first career home run) to put Georgia ahead 7-0. In her second at bat of the inning, sophomore Sydney Kuma knocked the fourth home run of the frame to put the Bulldogs out in front 8-0.
The last time Georgia hit three-straight home runs was against No. 2 Florida in 2018 in Athens.
Missouri got two runs back in the top of the second on a solo home run and an unearned run on a two-out error, 8-2. Another solo home run in the top of the third for the Tigers narrowed Georgia's lead to 8-3.
With a pair of Bulldogs on base in the bottom of the third, Kearney lined a double down the right field line to plate both runners and bring Georgia's lead back to seven, 10-3. She then tagged up and took third on a flyout then scored on a wild pitch, 11-3.
The Tigers plated three unearned runs in the fourth, cutting back into the lead, 11-6.
A sacrifice fly off the bat of Fields brought Georgia's lead back to six at 12-6 in the bottom of the fourth.
Four more unearned runs for Missouri touched home in the top of the fifth to make it a two-run game, 12-10.
Fincher knocked the fifth Bulldog home run of the game, a two-run home run to right, to bring the lead back to four, 14-10.
Avant entered to pitch to begin the sixth and shut out the Tigers the remainder of the game en route to the victory for the Bulldogs.
The rubber game of the series is set for 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Jack Turner Stadium between the Bulldogs and Tigers.
Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer
On the offensive success of the team…
"I think it was really fun. I was really proud of the offense for coming out and sticking to the approach and getting their swing off on good pitches. I thought Sydney [Kuma] did a great job in the leadoff, taking her walk, and I thought she had some really great base running. From there, it just kind of took off like wildfire tonight. Lacey [Fincher's] clutch at bat, her last at bat, was awesome to get us two more, Savana [Sikes'] with the two out single getting in front of her. I thought [Sara] Mosley had a really great night tonight, and then you get that kind of performance out of your lower half of the order with Jaiden Fields and Sydney Chambley and Jayda Kearney, in her first SEC appearance. It was really good."
On what the win meant for the team…
"Yeah, they're good team. They're not going to come out and lay down, and they came out swinging too. That's what good teams do, and that's part of being in the SEC. You just have to continue to do what you do and focus on what you do well and just keep after it and keep competing. That's why you play the game the entire game."
On the SEC joining together for the All for Alex and Geuax Teal campaigns…
"The coolest thing about today is that every team in our conference is wearing teal to represent the fight against ovarian cancer for women out there. We have so many strong women. Women want to tough everything out, but you can't with this one. You have to get your ovarian cancer screening and not just be tough. Get out and get the screening and make sure that you're okay because it's something that's a silent killer of women. I'm just really proud of Beth Torina at LSU for really working to get this all across our entire conference. It's very important, and I'm just really thankful to be a part of such a great conference with so many great coaches.
Jayda Kearney
On expectations going into her first at bat…
"At that point, I just wanted to get a base bit and keep the rally going. I wasn't trying to do too much, but I just happened to get all of the ball, and it went over."
On getting the final out of the game…
"It felt great. I didn't want to let any ball drop. I wanted to make sure that we got out of the inning as fast as possible. I just focused really hard to get that catch and be there for my team."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Avant, Mary Wilson (10-1)
L: Laurin Krings (4-2)
Batting:
HR: Kim Wert 1 ; Emma Raabe 1 ; Kendyll Bailey 1
RBI: Brooke Wilmes 1 ; Kim Wert 2 ; Emma Raabe 1 ; Kendyll Bailey 1 ; Abby George 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brooke Wilmes 1 ; Hatti Moore 1 ; Kim Wert 1 ; Emma Raabe 1 ; Alex Honnold 1 ; Kendyll Bailey 1 ; Imani Myint 1 ; Abby George 3
SB: Brooke Wilmes 1 ; Cayla Kessinger 1
Batting:
2B: Black, Aniyah 1 ; Kearney, Jayda 1
HR: Kuma, Sydney 1 ; Fincher, Lacey 1 ; Fields, Jaiden 1 ; Chambley, Sydney 1 ; Kearney, Jayda 1
RBI: Kuma, Sydney 1 ; Fincher, Lacey 3 ; Mosley, Sara 1 ; Fields, Jaiden 4 ; Chambley, Sydney 1 ; Kearney, Jayda 3
SF: Fields, Jaiden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kuma, Sydney 2 ; Sikes, Savana 2 ; Fincher, Lacey 2 ; Mosley, Sara 2 ; Fields, Jaiden 2 ; Chambley, Sydney 2 ; Kearney, Jayda 2
SB: Kuma, Sydney 1
HBP: Mosley, Sara 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
ss/2b
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Softball
OF/1B
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF
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