March 22, 2009
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A pair of two-out, three-run home runs propelled the ninth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs past South Carolina, 6-0, in the final game of the series on Sunday at Beckham Field.
Georgia (20-4, 4-2 SEC) saw Alisa Goler, the Southeastern Conference’s fourth-best hitter entering the game, hit her league-leading 11th blast of the year, in the third. That brought home Taylor Schlopy and Kristin Schnake, who reached base via a walk and a bunt hit, respectively, with two outs.
The Gamecocks (13-13, 1-11 SEC) had a chance to tie it in the bottom half of the inning, as they got two on with one down. Georgia starter Christie Hamilton (8-3) got a fly out before Schnake made a great catch on a line drive off P.J. Fulmer’s bat to end the inning. South Carolina threatened again in the fourth, as senior Cagney Davis drew a two-out walk and freshman Audrey Broyles got hit by a pitch. A grounder off the bat of freshman Lauren Lackey hit off Hamilton’s glove and went into left, where Megan Wiggins collected it and fired home to catch Davis and end the chance.
The Bulldogs struck again in the seventh, as Schlopy drove the first pitch of her at-bat over the wall in center. That plated Kristyn Sandberg, who led off the inning with a double, and Maya Branch, who managed a one-out walk.
South Carolina had one last chance, putting runners at first and second with two down in the bottom of the seventh on hits by Broyles and senior Ashton Payne. Hamilton got herself out of one last jam, inducing a fly ball to right center that Tess Echols caught to wrap up the game.
Hamilton struck out six and allowed four hits and two walks in the complete-game shutout, stranding eight South Carolina runners in the process. Broyles (7-6) took the loss, allowing six earned runs on six hits and three walks. She fanned three. Payne collected two hits on the day, half of the Gamecocks’ total.
The Garnet and Black hit the field next on Saturday, March 28, at Auburn. First pitch for the doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m. CDT.
