Athletics

Extra inning home run sends softball team to World Series

The seventh-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (48-11) advanced to the Women’s College World Series defeating the 10th-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols 2-1 in eight innings sweeping the best of three series sending the Bulldogs to Oklahoma City for the fourth time in program history.

Bulldog sophomore Mary Wilson Avant (12-3) turned in a masterful performance in the circle tossing five hitless innings before surrendering a single in the bottom of the sixth inning.

At the plate, Georgia out hit Tennessee 6-4. Cortni Emanuel and Ciara Bryan each had two hits at the top of the Bulldog lineup.

Tennessee starter Matty Moss matched Avant step for step in a pitcher’s duel in front of a sold-out Jack Turner Stadium.

In the top of the fourth, sophomore Ciara Bryan cracked a leadoff single down the first base line. Sophomore Justice Milz was hit by a pitch in the following at-bat bringing junior Alyssa DiCarlo to the plate. DiCarlo laid down a bunt to advance Bryan and Milz into scoring position with one out, but Moss got sophomore Alysen Febrey to line into a double play keeping the game scoreless.

The Volunteers turned to the bullpen in the top of the seventh after a Milz single bringing in last night’s starter Caylan Arnold. With a runner on first Dicarlo laced a triple into the right center field gap scoring pinch runner Tyler Armistead from first, giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.

After mustering just one hit all game off of Bulldog ace Avant, the Lady Vols manufactured a tying run in the bottom of the seventh using two singles and a hit by pitch sending the game to extra innings.

In the top of the eighth inning with nobody on base and two outs facing an 0-2 count, Georgia leadoff hitter Cortni Emmanuel lined her third career homerun into the right field pine trees putting Georgia back in front 2-1.

Once again proving their resilience the Lady Vols put two runners on base in the seventh but a tremendous grab by Bryan in centerfield crashing into the wall sent the Bulldogs to Oklahoma City by a finally tally of 2-1.

With the win, the No. 7 Bulldogs advance to the 2018 Women’s College World Series, which will be held May 31-June 6 in Oklahoma City. The Bulldogs have now reached four WCWS in program history, most recently in 2016.

For more details, go to georgiadogs.com.