Saturday, February 26
Athens, Ga.
1:00 p.m.
University of Georgia
13-2
5
vs
2
Bryant
0-4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Bryant
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
2
5
2
Georgia
0
0
1
1
2
1
X
5
9
0
Bulldogs Cap 4-0 Weekend with Wins Over Bryant, North Carolina
February 26, 2022 | Softball
ATHENS, Ga. – The No. 15-ranked Georgia Bulldogs secured victories over Bryant and North Carolina on the final day of the Georgia Classic at the Jack Turner Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
With the wins, Georgia improves to 14-2 on the season.
No. 15 Georgia 5, Bryant 2
Georgia and Bryant took to the field for the second time this weekend in a rematch of Friday night's 18-run thriller.
Lauren Mathis earned the start in the circle for the Bulldogs pitching 3.0 innings. Freshman Rebecca Muh pitched an inning before Madison Kerpics (4-1) came in relief for the final three innings. Kerpics earned the victory in relief, allowing no runs on two hits, fanning eight Bryant (0-4) hitters.
Georgia scored their five runs off nine hits and recorded no errors. Senior Savanna Sikes led the Bulldogs with three hits. Fellow senior Lacey Fincher added two hits and two RBI.
Georgia touched home plate first in the third inning following an RBI double to left center from sophomore Sydney Chambley to drive in Sikes.
Following a two-RBI double, Bryant briefly claimed the lead in the top of the fourth, 2-1. Redshirt-junior Jaiden Fields responded with a solo shot to left field to level the score in the home half of the inning.
Fincher extended the Bulldogs' lead to 4-2 on a two-out, two-RBI double in the fifth. Sydney Kuma's leadoff home run to left field in the sixth put Georgia up 5-2.
Kerpics struck out eight of the final eleven batters she faced to close out the win for the Bulldogs.
No. 15 Georgia 8, North Carolina 1
In the final matchup of the Georgia Classic, Georgia rounded out its perfect weekend against the Tar Heels (9-6).
Freshman Kylie Macy got the start in the circle for Georgia. Macy pitched one and two-thirds innings before leaving the game after being hit in the side by a line drive. Kerpics (5-1) pitched the remainder of the game posting three strikeouts while only allowing two hits of shutout softball.
Sophomore Jayda Kearney and Fields registered two hits each while four total Bulldogs had two RBI each. As a team, Georgia scattered seven hits to UNC's five.
Junior Sara Mosley homered to right field in the bottom of the first inning to give the Bulldogs the early 1-0 advantage.
The Tar Heels leveled the score following a fielding error at first base in the top of the second, but Kearney's RBI double reclaimed the lead after two, 2-1.
The Bulldogs plated five runs in the third off five hits, highlighted by Field's triple to left center field. The big hit of the inning was a double down the left field line off the bat of Lyndi Rae Davis. Georgia led 7-1 after three.
Fields' strong day at the plate continued in the fourth with an RBI single deep in the hole at short for the final score of the game, 8-1.
Georgia hosts Ohio, Massachusetts, and Appalachian State in the Bulldog Classic next weekend at the Jack Turner Stadium. Admission to all game is free.
Head Coach Tony Baldwin
On today's performance…
"I thought we were really gritty. I thought we were intentional about staying together. I thought we used our discipline to our advantage. I am really proud of our two hard-fought wins. I think the mark of a good team is winning when you aren't at your best, and that's not to take anything away from our opponents - they did everything they could to take us away from being our best. I thought we just fought really hard today. Some days it comes a little bit easier than others, today was not an easy day, but I thought they fought really hard. I am proud of the effort that they gave."
On Madison Kerpics two appearances…
"She was rested. We had a good week of work. She did not have a long outing yesterday, so we knew that she would be good to go today. She went a little longer in that first game than we had anticipated, but Bryant had something to do with that. I am really proud of the way she came in with a more aggressive mindset today and just trusted her stuff and attacked the hitters. That allowed her to have more leverage in the counts and put them on the defensive. I am really proud of her, I thought she commanded the ball really well today. Again, it was probably a little longer outing today between the two games than what we would've liked, but we also have a few days off here. We have nothing tomorrow, Monday is our off day and no mid-week game this week, we knew we could have a chance to recover."
Redshirt-Junior Jaiden Fields
On the young season...
"I'm feeling good. This team that is surrounding me to feel good. We have a great pitching staff and a great team on offense. When you're locked in with everybody, you have no choice but to feel good."
On the team's goals for the season...
"Continue to do what we are doing. Staying disciplined and trusting the process. Just continue to play our game the way we know how."
Sophomore Madison Kerpics
On stepping in for Kylie Macy...
"I just like to stay ready in case anything happens, so throughout the game I was getting ready."
On her performance against Bryant...
"I was just throwing all of my pitches. They all felt pretty good, but it was nice. I was throwing them all, trusting my defense was behind me when I needed help."
With the wins, Georgia improves to 14-2 on the season.
No. 15 Georgia 5, Bryant 2
Georgia and Bryant took to the field for the second time this weekend in a rematch of Friday night's 18-run thriller.
Lauren Mathis earned the start in the circle for the Bulldogs pitching 3.0 innings. Freshman Rebecca Muh pitched an inning before Madison Kerpics (4-1) came in relief for the final three innings. Kerpics earned the victory in relief, allowing no runs on two hits, fanning eight Bryant (0-4) hitters.
Georgia scored their five runs off nine hits and recorded no errors. Senior Savanna Sikes led the Bulldogs with three hits. Fellow senior Lacey Fincher added two hits and two RBI.
Georgia touched home plate first in the third inning following an RBI double to left center from sophomore Sydney Chambley to drive in Sikes.
Following a two-RBI double, Bryant briefly claimed the lead in the top of the fourth, 2-1. Redshirt-junior Jaiden Fields responded with a solo shot to left field to level the score in the home half of the inning.
Fincher extended the Bulldogs' lead to 4-2 on a two-out, two-RBI double in the fifth. Sydney Kuma's leadoff home run to left field in the sixth put Georgia up 5-2.
Kerpics struck out eight of the final eleven batters she faced to close out the win for the Bulldogs.
No. 15 Georgia 8, North Carolina 1
In the final matchup of the Georgia Classic, Georgia rounded out its perfect weekend against the Tar Heels (9-6).
Freshman Kylie Macy got the start in the circle for Georgia. Macy pitched one and two-thirds innings before leaving the game after being hit in the side by a line drive. Kerpics (5-1) pitched the remainder of the game posting three strikeouts while only allowing two hits of shutout softball.
Sophomore Jayda Kearney and Fields registered two hits each while four total Bulldogs had two RBI each. As a team, Georgia scattered seven hits to UNC's five.
Junior Sara Mosley homered to right field in the bottom of the first inning to give the Bulldogs the early 1-0 advantage.
The Tar Heels leveled the score following a fielding error at first base in the top of the second, but Kearney's RBI double reclaimed the lead after two, 2-1.
The Bulldogs plated five runs in the third off five hits, highlighted by Field's triple to left center field. The big hit of the inning was a double down the left field line off the bat of Lyndi Rae Davis. Georgia led 7-1 after three.
Fields' strong day at the plate continued in the fourth with an RBI single deep in the hole at short for the final score of the game, 8-1.
Georgia hosts Ohio, Massachusetts, and Appalachian State in the Bulldog Classic next weekend at the Jack Turner Stadium. Admission to all game is free.
Head Coach Tony Baldwin
On today's performance…
"I thought we were really gritty. I thought we were intentional about staying together. I thought we used our discipline to our advantage. I am really proud of our two hard-fought wins. I think the mark of a good team is winning when you aren't at your best, and that's not to take anything away from our opponents - they did everything they could to take us away from being our best. I thought we just fought really hard today. Some days it comes a little bit easier than others, today was not an easy day, but I thought they fought really hard. I am proud of the effort that they gave."
On Madison Kerpics two appearances…
"She was rested. We had a good week of work. She did not have a long outing yesterday, so we knew that she would be good to go today. She went a little longer in that first game than we had anticipated, but Bryant had something to do with that. I am really proud of the way she came in with a more aggressive mindset today and just trusted her stuff and attacked the hitters. That allowed her to have more leverage in the counts and put them on the defensive. I am really proud of her, I thought she commanded the ball really well today. Again, it was probably a little longer outing today between the two games than what we would've liked, but we also have a few days off here. We have nothing tomorrow, Monday is our off day and no mid-week game this week, we knew we could have a chance to recover."
Redshirt-Junior Jaiden Fields
On the young season...
"I'm feeling good. This team that is surrounding me to feel good. We have a great pitching staff and a great team on offense. When you're locked in with everybody, you have no choice but to feel good."
On the team's goals for the season...
"Continue to do what we are doing. Staying disciplined and trusting the process. Just continue to play our game the way we know how."
Sophomore Madison Kerpics
On stepping in for Kylie Macy...
"I just like to stay ready in case anything happens, so throughout the game I was getting ready."
On her performance against Bryant...
"I was just throwing all of my pitches. They all felt pretty good, but it was nice. I was throwing them all, trusting my defense was behind me when I needed help."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kerpics, Madison (4-1)
L: Kylie Kenney (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Jenna Gardne 1 ; McKenzie McA 1
RBI: McKenzie McA 2
SH: Josie Gex 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Toni Camaril 1 ; Abby Trimble 1
Batting:
2B: Sikes, Savana 1 ; Chambley, Sydney 1 ; Fincher, Lacey 2
HR: Fields, Jaiden 1 ; Kuma, Sydney 1
RBI: Chambley, Sydney 1 ; Fincher, Lacey 2 ; Fields, Jaiden 1 ; Kuma, Sydney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sikes, Savana 2 ; Mosley, Sara 1 ; Fields, Jaiden 1 ; Kuma, Sydney 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
C/1B
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
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