No.5 Georgia softball beats No. 14 Alabama

ATHENS, Ga. – The fifth-ranked Georgia softball team defeated No. 14/15 Alabama Friday evening in Georgia’s Southeastern Conference opener at Jack Turner Stadium, 4-2.

The Dogs’ win streak extends to seven as Georgia improves to 22-3 on the season and 1-0 in SEC play.

Ellie Armistead was a bright spot at the plate for Georgia, going 3-for-3, including a go-ahead three-run home run in the fourth. Sara Mosley and Dallis Goodnight each scattered two hits on Friday.

In the circle, Madison Kerpics (8-1) earned the victory in her four-inning start. She allowed one run on two hits. Shelby Walters worked two and a third innings in relief, striking out two. Lilli Backes earned her fourth save, recording the final two outs in the seventh.

A two-out solo home run put Alabama (21-4, 1-3) on the board in the top of the second, 1-0.

With one swing of the bat, Armistead put Georgia in front with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth, 3-1.

Alabama used a solo home run in the fifth to narrow the Dogs’ new lead, 3-2.

Georgia added an insurance run in the fifth. Lyndi Rae Davis drew a one-out walk, her second of the game. Mosely stepped in and sent the first pitch she saw into the left-center gap, easily scoring pinch runner Hannah Davila to bring the lead back to two, 4-2.

Walters and Backes combined to hold the Tide in the sixth and seventh inning en route to the win.

Georgia and Alabama face off in game two of the series Saturday at Jack Turner Stadium. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. live on SEC Network.

Head Coach Tony Baldwin

On the crowd…

“I just talked to our team about taking a minute to take it all in. Unbelievable environment it was. On a crazy weather kind of day where you kind of thought, ‘Man, we’re not going to get to play,’ it ends up being a nice night. And the crowd was crazy. I know parking and getting in is a nightmare with all of the construction. I’m just so thankful for Dawg Nation coming out and supporting us. It made a difference. We could feel them tonight, and it’s just an awesome college softball game.”

On the competitiveness of the team tonight…

“I’m just really proud of the way they kept competing and staying in it. We’ve talked about it over and over again about our ability to play under strain. I talked to them before the game, and [Alabama’s] Kayla Beaver is as good as anybody in the country. The only way you can beat somebody like that, keep grinding your at-bats, and beat them in the fourth, fifth inning. And we were able to do that tonight. She was really good. I thought Madison [Kerpics] really competed and gave us an opportunity to win the game. She didn’t have her ‘A’ stuff, but she competed and got us through the lineup twice. She gave us a chance to win the game. I thought Shelby [Walters] was really sharp and started to look like Shelby again. And then Lilli [Backes] just comes in and just does what Lilli B does. Super proud of some of the great plays we made on defense. Ellie [Armistead] with the huge at-bat, the three-run home run, to really change the momentum of the game. Lots of really good things, and I’m just proud of the way we competed.”