Spring Break
Seventh-ranked softball team upset in SEC tourney
ZACH DILLARD
Issue date: 5/8/09 Section: Sports
The Georgia softball team endured yet another first round exit from the SEC Tournament.
Despite pre-tournament warnings by head coach Lu Harris-Champer as to how improved their opponent Kentucky was, the third-seeded Bulldogs (39-10, 18-8) were still upset 2-0 by the sixth-seeded Wildcats in the opening game of the SEC tourney in Knoxville, Tenn.
The loss marks only the fifth time Georgia has been shut out the entire season, and the first in which it came against an opponent ranked outside of the top five in the national polls.
Kentucky's freshman pitcher Rachel Riley (6-5) was the story of the game as she earned the biggest win of her young career. Riley pitched the complete game shut out, limiting the Bulldogs to just five hits and no walks. The Wildcat freshman was also able to limit Georgia's four All-SEC selections in the lineup to just 2-for-12 at the plate.
Senior pitcher Christie Hamilton received the loss despite pitching very effectively - pitching a complete game allowing only four hits and two runs while striking out six batters.
Hamilton (21-8) found herself in early trouble in the top of the first inning as Kentucky loaded the bases on a single and two walks with only one out. But she was able to escape the jam by forcing a pop out in foul territory, followed by a ground out to escape the inning with no damage done.
Hamilton went on to retire 11 straight batters from that first inning until giving up a single in the top half of the fifth. After the single, though, Kentucky would take the lead for good as the Wildcats' All-SEC shortstop Molly Johnson homered to left field to make the score 2-0.
Georgia put runners on-base in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings - twice into scoring position - only to leave them stranded each time.
The Bulldogs had swept the season series against Kentucky by scores of 3-1, 10-0, and 5-2.
Georgia was bounced in the first round last season by Tennessee, just a year removed from being beaten in the first round by Alabama in 2007.
Kentucky will advance to face the winner of Alabama/Arkansas in the semifinals of the tournament.
Georgia, who is undoubtedly still a lock for the NCAA tournament, will wait to receive their seeding and region on the NCAA Tournament selection show Sunday, May 10 at 10 pm.
Despite pre-tournament warnings by head coach Lu Harris-Champer as to how improved their opponent Kentucky was, the third-seeded Bulldogs (39-10, 18-8) were still upset 2-0 by the sixth-seeded Wildcats in the opening game of the SEC tourney in Knoxville, Tenn.
The loss marks only the fifth time Georgia has been shut out the entire season, and the first in which it came against an opponent ranked outside of the top five in the national polls.
Kentucky's freshman pitcher Rachel Riley (6-5) was the story of the game as she earned the biggest win of her young career. Riley pitched the complete game shut out, limiting the Bulldogs to just five hits and no walks. The Wildcat freshman was also able to limit Georgia's four All-SEC selections in the lineup to just 2-for-12 at the plate.
Senior pitcher Christie Hamilton received the loss despite pitching very effectively - pitching a complete game allowing only four hits and two runs while striking out six batters.
Hamilton (21-8) found herself in early trouble in the top of the first inning as Kentucky loaded the bases on a single and two walks with only one out. But she was able to escape the jam by forcing a pop out in foul territory, followed by a ground out to escape the inning with no damage done.
Hamilton went on to retire 11 straight batters from that first inning until giving up a single in the top half of the fifth. After the single, though, Kentucky would take the lead for good as the Wildcats' All-SEC shortstop Molly Johnson homered to left field to make the score 2-0.
Georgia put runners on-base in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings - twice into scoring position - only to leave them stranded each time.
The Bulldogs had swept the season series against Kentucky by scores of 3-1, 10-0, and 5-2.
Georgia was bounced in the first round last season by Tennessee, just a year removed from being beaten in the first round by Alabama in 2007.
Kentucky will advance to face the winner of Alabama/Arkansas in the semifinals of the tournament.
Georgia, who is undoubtedly still a lock for the NCAA tournament, will wait to receive their seeding and region on the NCAA Tournament selection show Sunday, May 10 at 10 pm.
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