Yesterday began the second round of conference play for the Bulldogs; it was a great day for the Bulldogs as they are currently in a tie for second place in the division. The bats were on fire as the Bulldogs hit nine home runs on the day, seven in the first game of the doubleheader, a new single-game record for the Bulldogs. Behind 33 runs, 30 hits, and a near no-hitter, the Bulldogs swept the Hawks in the doubleheader matchup, winning game one 21-0 and game two 12-3.
Game one was loaded with fireworks, as six different batters hit home runs for the Bulldogs, scoring multiple runs in each of their four innings on offense. Makensey Sapp and Brianna Painter started for the Bulldogs, as Sapp reached an error and Painter ripped a double down the left-field line. Whitley Ward picked up her first two RBI's of the day on a single to center, scoring Sapp and Painter. The Hawks were able to sit down the first batter of the second inning, and then the Bulldogs went to work, hitting five home runs. Faircloth, Sapp, Ward, Graves, and Goolsby each launched the ball out of the park. Goolsby's home run was the first of her collegiate career. Goolsby and Faircloth each hit doubles in the third before Autumn Land picked up her second RBI of the game on a triple that was ripped right down the right-field line. Land scored as Sapp hit her second home run of the game, a line drive to right-center. With two outs and down to her last strike, pinch hitter Ashlyn Trimble hit her first- home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, a three-run blast to the scoreboard in right-center. Starting pitcher Jana Shellhorse threw a complete-game shutout, allowing just one hit, no walks, and seven strikeouts in five innings of work.
The trio at the top of the line up once again got things started for the Bulldogs in game two; as Sapp reached on a walk and stole second base, Painter picked up her first triple of the season to right-center, driving in Sapp and Ward doubled off the fence in left to score Painter. Mckenzie Graves doubled to deep right field, scoring Ward, before being thrown out trying to take third base. South Georgia scored an unearned run in the second inning to make the score 3-1 Bulldog. The Hawks were able to hold GMC scoreless in the bottom of the second inning, the only inning that they didn't score during the doubleheader but bounced back in the third inning, scoring three more runs. Jessica Owens joined in on the home run party, hitting a two-run rocket to center field, scoring Ward, who reached on a walk. Graves followed with an infield single and eventually scored on an error by the right fielder off Caroline Hughes' bat. The Hawks picked up their final two runs of the game in the fourth inning after a leadoff walk, a single, and a past ball put runners in scoring position for them. Three infield ground outs and one throwing error allowed the Hawks to make the score 6-3 going into the bottom of the fourth inning. The Bulldogs scored six runs in their half of the fourth, putting the run-rule effect in place.
The first six Bulldogs in the lineup reached base as Land got the ball rolling after she reached on an error. Sapp followed that with her second walk of the game. Painter hit her fourth extra-base hit of the day, an RBI double to centerfield. Ward then hit a no-doubter to deep center for her second home run of the afternoon, and sixth and seventh RBI's on the day. Owens, Graves, Poisal, and Hughes each followed a single before the first out was recorded in the inning. Beth Eddins picked up the win as she went four innings, allowing five hits and three runs. Layla Barron closed out the game, facing the minimum three batters in a stellar inning of work.
"Today was fun. The excitement was contagious, and it was a joy to see the hard work pay off. Due to injury, we lost an integral part of our lineup, so we needed some others to step up today, and they did. I am very proud of how we have been playing, but we still have some work to do as we have some tough games down the stretch, beginning with Georgia Highlands on Thursday."
The Bulldogs' next games will be Thursday, April 15th, at Georgia Highlands College in Cartersville, Ga. Game times are 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm.
