University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
#18 Kentucky
No. 2 UGA Clinches SEC Series With No. 18 UK, 8-3
April 09, 2011 | Softball
April 9, 2011
ATHENS, Ga. --- No. 2 Georgia clinched a Southeastern Conference series with an 8-3 victory over No. 18 Kentucky on Saturday in front a crowd of 1,632 at Jack Turner Stadium, the third-largest home crowd in program history.
Georgia (34-6, 10-5 SEC) won the first meeting of series Friday night by a score of 6-1 and will go for the series sweep of Kentucky (27-9, 11-5 SEC) on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Junior Kristyn Sandberg paced the Bulldogs by going 2-for-2 with a double and a home run as she tied a career high with four RBI. Sandberg has hit safely in her last eight at-bats and reached base in her last 10 plate appearances.
Cather Ashley Razey (2-for-3) also contributed three RBIs courtesy of a home run and a sacrifice fly.
From the circle, freshman Morgan Montemayor pitched into the sixth allowing three runs on seven hits to earn the win and improve to 17-3 while sophomore Alison Owen notched her third save by tossing the final two innings striking out four. Kentucky countered with three pitchers with starter Rachel Riley (8-3) taking the loss after pitching just one inning surrendering four runs, three earned.
In the first, Kentucky jumped out to a two-run advantage but Georgia answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 4-2 lead. The Wildcats' Brittany Cervantes and Riley each recorded an RBI on a single and a groundout, respectively, in their half of the inning. Georgia then loaded the bases in their half with seniors Taylor Schlopy and Alisa Goler drawing walks and senior Brianna Hessen reaching on an error. Senior Megan Wiggins then delivered an RBI single, Razey tied it with her sacrifice fly and Sandberg gave the Dogs the lead with a two-run double.
In the third inning, Sandberg stretched the Bulldog advantage to 6-2 with a two-run homer to left. Sophomore Macie Couey was aboard for the Sandberg's sixth home run of the year after pinch running for Razey, who reached on a single.
With no outs and runners at second and third in the top of the Kentucky sixth, Georgia called on Alison Owen from the bullpen. Owen gave up an RBI single to Riley, but retired the next three batters to maintain the three run lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Razey gave the Bulldogs two runs of insurance on a two-run home run from Razey. Wiggins scored on Razey's seventh home run after leading off the inning with a single to right.
The Bulldogs wore pink jerseys on Saturday as part of the second-annual Strike Out Cancer promotional event, and the game was televised nationally on ESPNU. The jerseys were auctioned off during the game to raise money for the Athens Regional Breast Health Center. Kentucky participated in the event by wearing pink helmets, belts and socks.
Admission is free to Sunday's series finale. Live audio and live stats will also be available on www.georgiadogs.com.
