ATHENS, Ga. — The third-ranked Georgia softball team defeated No. 20 Arkansas 8-2 on Sunday to even the weekend series at Jack Turner Stadium.
The Bulldogs climb to 29-5 on the season and 6-2 in SEC play.
Jayda Kearney tied a career-best four hits in Sunday’s matchup, while Jaydyn Goodwin added three hits and four RBI. Sara Mosley and Ellie Armistead each added a hit and an RBI.
Madison Kerpics (9-1) pitched four innings in her start, allowing two runs on three hits and fanned two batters. Shelby Walters recorded a three-inning save, her second save of the season. She pitched three scoreless, hitless innings and allowed just one baserunner.
With runners on the corners and two out in the bottom of the first, Goodwin singled off the pitcher, and the ball went into right, allowing Mosley to score and putting Georgia ahead 1-0.
An RBI fielder’s choice and an RBI single to left plated two Arkansas (25-9, 4-4) runs in the top of the second to flip the lead in the Razorbacks’ favor, 2-1.
Georgia got both runs back in the bottom of the inning. With two out and two on, Mosley singled to right, plating Marisa Miller and tying it up. Kearney followed with an RBI hit through the right side to score Lyndi Rae Davis and give Georgia back the lead, 3-2.
Back-to-back RBI doubles off the bats of Goodwin and Armistead plated two more runs for Georgia in the fourth, widening the lead to 5-2.
Goodwin’s hot hitting continued in the sixth with a two-RBI double, then a sac fly off the bat of Miller completed a three-run inning, 8-2.
Walters retired the Razorbacks in order in the seventh to secure the Georgia victory.
The series rubber match is set for Monday evening at Jack Turner Stadium. First pitch will be at 7 p.m. on SEC Network. Head coach Tony Baldwin will be mic’d up as part of Mic’d Up Mondays.
