Spring Break
Georgia softball swept by Florida
Issue date: 3/12/09 Section: Sports
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The No. 7-ranked Georgia softball team opened Southeastern Conference play on Wednesday falling twice to the No. 1-ranked Florida Gators, 15-0 and 4-0, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
With the two wins, Florida improved to 24-2 overall and 5-0 in SEC play, while Georgia fell to 15-4 overall and 0-2 in league action.
Florida's Stacey Nelson (12-2) and Stephanie Brombacher (12-0) each earned a victory after pitching a pair of complete game one-hitters. Nelson tossed five-innings for the win in game one, and Brombacher (12-0) carried a perfect game into the sixth inning of game two en route to earning the seven-inning victory. Georgia senior Christie Hamilton (6-3) suffered the loss in both contests.
In game one, Nelson allowed just two Bulldogs to reach base. Sophomore Taylor Schlopy drew a walk to start the game, and sophomore Brianna Hesson recorded the Bulldogs' load hit with a single to right in the second. The Florida offense supported Nelson by scoring 15 runs on 10 hits and 12 walks including a seven-run first inning. The 15 runs and 12 walks were the most ever allowed by Georgia in a single game.
The Gators drew three walks to start the bottom of the first, and the Bulldogs turned to sophomore Sarah McCloud in relief. Francesca Enea greeted McCloud with a two-run double, and after another free pass re-loaded the bases, Corrie Brooks delivered a grand slam to left. Florida added a seventh run in the inning on an RBI triple to right from Aja Paculba.
The Gators extended the lead to 11-0 with four runs on three hits in the second. With two outs and two runners aboard after drawing a pair of walks, Megan Bush singled in a run, and Michelle Moultrie followed with a run-scoring double. Next, Kristina Hilberth drove in both Bush and Moultrie with a single up the middle. Georgia then turned freshman Erin Arevalo in relief who would get out of the inning.
Florida would then add three more runs in the third and another in the fourth to give the game its final margin of 15-0. In the third, Kelsey Bruder doubled to center, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a Georgia fielding error. The Gators then proceeded to load the bases with two outs for Moultrie, who doubled in two runs. In the fourth, Paculba led off the inning with a home run to center.
In game two, Florida built a two-run lead after two innings via a pair of solo home runs. Bruder homered in the first to center, and in the second, Bush went deep to left center. The Gators added their other two runs in the fourth. Brooks and Bush started the frame off with a pair of singles, and a sacrifice bunt from Moultrie moved the runners up to second and third. Hilbreth followed with a RBI single through the left side leaving runners on the corners. During the next at-bat, Hilbreth was caught stealing second but pinch runner Ami Austin took home on the play.
Brombacher remained perfect through the first out of the sixth inning, but freshman Ashley Pauly doubled to center to end the bid for the perfect game. Brombacher, however, would retire the next five straight to end the game.
Up next, Georgia returns to Athens for its home SEC opener against LSU at the UGA Softball Stadium. The Bulldogs and Tigers will play a three-game series with a double header on Saturday at 1 & 3 p.m. ET and the finale on Sunday at 1 p.m.
- Georgia Sports Communications
With the two wins, Florida improved to 24-2 overall and 5-0 in SEC play, while Georgia fell to 15-4 overall and 0-2 in league action.
Florida's Stacey Nelson (12-2) and Stephanie Brombacher (12-0) each earned a victory after pitching a pair of complete game one-hitters. Nelson tossed five-innings for the win in game one, and Brombacher (12-0) carried a perfect game into the sixth inning of game two en route to earning the seven-inning victory. Georgia senior Christie Hamilton (6-3) suffered the loss in both contests.
In game one, Nelson allowed just two Bulldogs to reach base. Sophomore Taylor Schlopy drew a walk to start the game, and sophomore Brianna Hesson recorded the Bulldogs' load hit with a single to right in the second. The Florida offense supported Nelson by scoring 15 runs on 10 hits and 12 walks including a seven-run first inning. The 15 runs and 12 walks were the most ever allowed by Georgia in a single game.
The Gators drew three walks to start the bottom of the first, and the Bulldogs turned to sophomore Sarah McCloud in relief. Francesca Enea greeted McCloud with a two-run double, and after another free pass re-loaded the bases, Corrie Brooks delivered a grand slam to left. Florida added a seventh run in the inning on an RBI triple to right from Aja Paculba.
The Gators extended the lead to 11-0 with four runs on three hits in the second. With two outs and two runners aboard after drawing a pair of walks, Megan Bush singled in a run, and Michelle Moultrie followed with a run-scoring double. Next, Kristina Hilberth drove in both Bush and Moultrie with a single up the middle. Georgia then turned freshman Erin Arevalo in relief who would get out of the inning.
Florida would then add three more runs in the third and another in the fourth to give the game its final margin of 15-0. In the third, Kelsey Bruder doubled to center, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a Georgia fielding error. The Gators then proceeded to load the bases with two outs for Moultrie, who doubled in two runs. In the fourth, Paculba led off the inning with a home run to center.
In game two, Florida built a two-run lead after two innings via a pair of solo home runs. Bruder homered in the first to center, and in the second, Bush went deep to left center. The Gators added their other two runs in the fourth. Brooks and Bush started the frame off with a pair of singles, and a sacrifice bunt from Moultrie moved the runners up to second and third. Hilbreth followed with a RBI single through the left side leaving runners on the corners. During the next at-bat, Hilbreth was caught stealing second but pinch runner Ami Austin took home on the play.
Brombacher remained perfect through the first out of the sixth inning, but freshman Ashley Pauly doubled to center to end the bid for the perfect game. Brombacher, however, would retire the next five straight to end the game.
Up next, Georgia returns to Athens for its home SEC opener against LSU at the UGA Softball Stadium. The Bulldogs and Tigers will play a three-game series with a double header on Saturday at 1 & 3 p.m. ET and the finale on Sunday at 1 p.m.
- Georgia Sports Communications
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