April 29, 2011
Auburn, Ala. - The fourth-ranked Georgia softball team broke open a tie game with a three-run fifth inning and claimed a 6-1 victory over the 25th-ranked Auburn Tigers Friday night in the series opener.
Auburn dropped to 34-15 overall and 11-12 in the Southeastern Conference. Georgia improved to 42-7 overall and 15-6 in the SEC. The Tigers and Bulldogs continue the series at 1 p.m. CT Saturday.
"This game was closer than the score indicates," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "Georgia got a couple big two-out hits when they needed it. We did a good job putting runners on but just couldn't get a hit drop. Georgia hits a lot of home runs and I thought Angel did a good job keeping the ball in the park tonight. We'll re-group tonight and come back ready to play tomorrow."
Angel Bunner started and took the loss to fall to 12-6. Bunner allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts in five innings of work. Jenee Loree relieved Bunner to start the sixth and pitched the final two innings. Loree allowed two runs, both earned, on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
Alison Owen earned the win in relief to improve to 15-2. Owen pitched five shutout innings, allowing two hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Morgan Montemayor started and went one inning, allowing one run, unearned, on three hits with no walks or strikeouts. Katie Murphy pitched the final inning, allowing two hits with one strikeout.
Amber Harrison gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Morgan Estell singled to center to open the inning for Auburn. Kelsey Cartwright then put down a bunt that Montemayor fielded, but threw over first base allowing Estell to move to third and Cartwright to move to second. Harrison followed with sac fly to left that plated Estell.
Georgia tied the game in top of the second when Taylor Schlopy hit into a bases-loaded fielder's choice, scoring Brittney Hubbard from third.
The Bulldogs used a two-out rally to take the lead in the top of the fifth inning. After Bunner retired the first two hitters of the inning, Alisa Goler walked and Brianna Hesson singled to center to put runners at second and first. Ashley Razey then crunched a three-run home run off the scoreboard in left to give Georgia a 4-1 lead. It was Razey's 10th home run of the season.
Georgia used another two-out rally to increase its lead in the top of the sixth. Ashley Pauley walked with two outs and moved to second on a single by Schlopy. Megan Wiggins followed with a double to the gap in left-center to score both runners and give the Bulldogs a 6-1 lead.
The Tigers would leave one runner on the bottom of the sixth and two runners on the seventh as the Bulldogs found ways to prevent a rally. Auburn left 10 runners on base for the game, including leaving the bases loaded in the second and fourth innings.