The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/13/09 Section: Sports

MCCLOUD

The No. 7 Georgia softball team overmatched another opponent to stay perfect at home (20-0), with Ole Miss the victim this time.

The Bulldogs (29-7, 10-5 SEC) had excellent pitching and timely hitting to thank for the three-game sweep, shutting out the Rebels (17-23, 5-17 SEC) twice en route to scores of 8-0, 6-0 and 4-2, respectively.

Senior Christie Hamilton (15-5) won two games in the series, collecting a shutout in Game 2 and relieving sophomore Sarah McCloud with the game tied during Game 3. Hamilton worked 10.1 innings and allowed only eight hits.

McCloud (11-2) earned the other win in Game 1, shutting out the Rebels in five innings of work.

Hamilton and McCloud were able to pitch their way out of jams throughout the entire weekend. The Rebels put runners on second and third seven times in the series, twice with zero outs, and were only able to produce a mere two runs. Both pitchers induced pop outs and ground outs consistently in the tight spots, much to the delight of their teammates.

"Anytime a pitcher can get a short pop out for an easy out, it is great," said third baseman Alisa Goler. "But when [Hamilton and McCloud] were able to do that in those tight situations, it is even better."

Goler, a national player of the year candidate, was the highlight of a Bulldog lineup that was held in check for a good portion of the series by Ole Miss pitcher Becky Nye (15.1 innings, 10 earned runs). The sophomore was able to hit 4-for-7 with one home run and 6 RBIs in the series while continuing her chase of many of the school's single-season records.

Goler (13 home runs, 58 RBIs) needs just three home runs and seven RBIs to tie the single-season school records

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