RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
Following Georgia’s 5-0 victory over Charlotte on Saturday in an elimination game, Bulldogs head coach Tony Baldwin said UGA would have to come ready to fight on Sunday.
And that’s exactly what the Bulldogs did as they defeated Liberty twice to earn a trip to the Super Regional. With the two victories, Georgia advances to the Super Regional in Los Angeles, Calif., where the Bulldogs will meet UCLA.
Georgia came out firing in game one and then used an epic comeback to win game two and secure a spot in the Super Regional. The Bulldogs won the first game 14-5 and won the second game 3-2.
“Wow! What a day! Just thankful for all the people that put on the event this weekend and dealing with all of the circumstances with the weather and the different things. A lot of people involved put this together. Hats off to Liberty. The competitor in their team showed up and they were certainly a worthy opponent. And Elena [Escobar], the way that she bounced back in that second game was as good as anybody we’ve seen. I mean, we’ve faced them all.,” said Baldwin. “Just proud of our team and the fight. I thought we came out obviously with a lot of fight in game one, and were getting some good pitches to hit and took care of business there. And sometimes when things go your way, when there’s such a gap, when it’s just everything’s going right in that first game, that second game is a real mental challenge because as soon as maybe it doesn’t go that way, then you start to think ‘Oh no’. And we maybe did that for a few innings there, but I thought we got back into just really competing, and then we showed the fight and competitiveness that our group has, and I’m just really proud of them.”
*****
Georgia 14, Liberty 5
The Bulldogs broke out the bats for game one as they blasted six home runs on their way to a 14-5 victory over Liberty.
The six home runs by Georgia was the most in a single game since 2016 against Austin Peay and the 17 hits was a season high.
Georgia raced out to a 9-0 lead only to see the Flames cut the lead to 9-4 in the fourth inning, but the Bulldogs would respond.
Jada Kearney capped a three-run inning for UGA in the top of the fifth inning with a two-run double to increase the lead to 12-4.
Kearney and Sara Mosley each homered in the game and it marked their 20th homer of the season making them the first Georgia teammates to hit 20 home runs in the same season.
All the offense was more than enough for Madison Kerpics and Lilli Backes in the circle.
Georgia 3, Liberty 2
Game two was an instant classic and the Bulldogs needed an epic comeback to record the victory.
Lilli Backes and Elena Escobar hooked up in a pitcher’s duel as each pitcher went the distance.
Scoreless through three innings, Liberty dented the scoreboard first when Savannah Jessee doubled home a run in the top of the fourth inning.
The Flames extended the lead to 2-0 in the top of the fifth inning when Brooke Roberts homered for the second time in the regional.
Georgia got a run back in the bottom of the sixth inning courtesy of a Liberty fielding error, but still trailed 2-1 entering the bottom the seventh inning.
With one out, Emily Digby singled to center to start the rally and Ellie Armistead advanced her to second with a sacrifice bunt.
With two outs, Dallis Goodnight singled to score Digby and tie the game at 2-2.
Sydney Chambley followed with a single to center to score Goodnight and send the Bulldogs into a frenzied celebration.
“I’m thinking about what my teammates have set me up to be in that position, the confidence in my teammates put me there, so I’m going to get the job done. For them and just see ball, hit ball and everything,” said Chambley.
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