Georgia softball thumps Miami (Ohio), 13-2

ATHENS, Ga. – No. 7/6 Georgia softball picked up a run-rule victory over Miami (Ohio) Friday afternoon, beating the RedHawks 13-2 in five innings.

Jayda Kearney went 3-for-3 and hit two home runs, the second a grand slam to complete the run rule in the fifth.

Georgia climbs to 16-3 on the season.

The duo of Sara Mosley and Kearney highlighted the day at the plate for the Dogs. Mosley drove in five and also homered in the game. The pair combined for 11 RBI.

Lilli Backes (6-1) recorded the victory in the circle, working five innings, allowing two unearned runs, on four hits. She struck out three and walked just one.

Georgia put up eight runs in the bottom of the first to take a commanding lead early in the contest. Mosley kicked off the scoring with a two-run home run, 2-0. Kearney followed with a solo shot to make it 3-0. An RBI single from Ellie Armistead plated Georgia’s fourth run, and then a bases-loaded walk to Lyndi Rae Davis pushed in another, 5-0. Mosley singled to left with bases still loaded, driving in two more. The inning ended on a Kearney RBI single to bring the lead to 8-0, but Mosley was out at home attempting to score.

The 8-0 score held until the fifth inning. Down to the RedHawks’ (13-5) final strike, Jenna Golenbiewski used a two-run home run to keep the game going, 8-2.

Georgia loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning with no out. Mosley looked at ball four to plate pinch runner Hannah Davila, 9-2. Kearney then blasted her eighth home run of the game, a grand slam, to call game and run rule the RedHawks 13-2.

Weather has affected day two of the Bulldog Classic. The first game of the day between Jacksonville State and Furman has been canceled. Georgia’s game against Jacksonville State will now begin at 2 p.m. then the Bulldogs will take on Miami at 4:30 p.m. Miami and Furman will now square off at 7 p.m. to finish the day.

Saturday, March 9 Schedule

2 p.m. – Jacksonville State vs. Georgia

4:30 p.m. – Miami vs. Georgia

7 p.m. – Miami vs. Furman

Head Coach Tony Baldwin

On the team’s performance…

” I’m really pleased with the way that we came out and competed. We played with joy and just did the things that we’ve been working on. And, after a tough finish to the California trip, getting back to work this week and then getting back on the field felt good to get out there and compete again and do the things that we’re capable of. I’m really proud of Lilli [Backes], I thought she was super sharp. Defensively, there was a couple things that we could clean up, but we also made some really good plays. So, pretty complete effort against a really good ball club.”

On what he is looking forward to as the Bulldog Classic continues…

“Just continuing to play. We’ve said many times this is a race against ourselves to see how good we can be. And so, it really isn’t about the team in the other dugout. It’s just can we go do the things that we trained to do, that we believe that we are capable of doing, and fighting that battle that you have within yourself and in your mind — and more opportunities to do that. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”