Spring Break
OKLAHOMA CITY!: Softball advances to first Women's College World Series
ZACH DILLARD
Issue date: 5/25/09 Section: Sports
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The No. 6 Georgia (44-10) softball team staged a dramatic comeback for the second straight game to defeat No. 11 Ohio State 7-6 to advance to the Women's College World Series for the first time in school history.
"I just couldn't be more proud of a team and every single player, coach and staff member part of this program," said head coach Lu Harris-Champer. "Just proud of the team for showing a lot of heart, a lot of grit and a lot of pride and finding a way to win."
After trailing 6-1 to the Buckeyes (47-11), Georgia rode the momentum of a five-run sixth inning to win the Athens Super Regional.
Freshman Tori Moody led off the frame with home run to straight away center field - her 5th homer of the year - bringing the score to 6-3.
After bunt singles by Kristin Schnake and Lisaira Daniels, Taylor Schlopy stepped into the box with one out and a chance to tie the game. And she did just that. The sophomore center fielder sent a shot over the wall in right field, and sprinted around bases to her teammates waiting at home plate.
"I was just really excited," said Schlopy. "It was a great hit, but like I said it was a team effort - mine was just one of many hits and many great accomplishments that happened during that game."
The sixth-inning celebration would not end there. Hesson stepped in two batters later and hit a double off the wall for her second RBI of the contest, and, most importantly, allowed the Bulldogs to take the 7-6 lead.
Schlopy and Hesson played the heroes for the Georgia offense, combining to hit 4-for-8 with 6 RBIs.
Senior Christie Hamilton, who was pulled after four batter on Thursday, found herself in the reverse situation as she relivied the ineffective Sarah McCloud in the first. After setting down the Buckeyes in order in the sixth, the senior allowed two runners on-base in the final inning. Hamilton came through in the clutch by inducing a pop-up and striking out Whitney Cooper and Pruner to send Georgia to the College World Series.
"We've been in these situations before, stay calm, and I knew that if I could get the ball in play that my defense would have my back so I wasn't really too nervous," said Hamilton.
"[Hamilton] is a fierce competitor, she's been all year, and our pitchers work really well together and complement each other," said Harris-Champer. "They really worked hard to do what they can do to help the team get a win."
In the first, Georgia threatened to break the game wide open against OSU's Kim Reeder but only managed one run despite loading the bases with no outs.
Ohio State quickly answered with a grand slam from right fielder Courtney Pruner McCloud. The homer was Pruner's second of the series off of McCloud and gave her 7 RBIs in two games. McCloud only lasted 2/3 of an inning before getting the hook.
The Buckeyes would push their lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the third with an RBI single by first baseman Tory Habbad and an RBI double down the left field line by Rachel Shepherd.
Schlopy cut into the Buckeye lead by hitting Kristin Schnake home from second base in the top of the fourth, sending the score to 6-2.
The win marks the second straight come-from-behind win in the series after Georgia came back to defeat Ohio State on Thursday night.
Georgia, the first team to clinch a Women's World Series berth, will now await the other seven competitors to earn their World Series' spots. The Bulldogs will resume play next week, May 28-June 3, in Oklahoma City, Okla.
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