UGA Takes 3-1 Win in Series Opener

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 13 Texas A&M softball team (35-10, 6-9 SEC) dropped a 3-1 decision at Georgia (32-15, 9-7 SEC), Friday in the first game of a three-game Southeastern Conference series.

Senior Meagan May had the Aggies’ only RBI of the day on a two-out single up the middle in the top of the fourth. A&M and UGA both stranded seven batters, and Bulldog pitcher Chelsea Wilkinson’s 12 strikeouts broke her personal career and UGA’s 2013 records.

Georgia had two base hits and an RBI double in the bottom of the first, and took advantage of two A&M errors to lead 2-0 after the first inning.

Three Aggies reached base in the first two innings, but each was left stranded. Juniors Nicole Morgan and Jenna Stark drew four-pitch walks and freshman Cali Lanphear hit a single up the middle. Junior Cassie Tysarczyk added a base hit down the right-field line in the top of the third, but was caught stealing.

In the top of the fourth, junior Jenna Stark was hit by a pitch and moved to second when junior Amber Garza reached on a walk. With two outs, May sent a base hit skidding into centerfield as Stark scored the 2-1 run.

Stark was hit by her second pitch of the night in the top of the sixth and Garza battled through a 15-pitch at-bat to again reach on a walk. A fielder’s choice by Lanphear put runners at first and second, but the Aggies were unable to capitalize on the opportunity.

UGA scored its final run of the day on an RBI fielder’s choice in the bottom of the sixth with runners on first and third and two outs on the board.

The 3-1 victory gives Georgia a 1-0 advantage in the series and is the Bulldogs’ first win against a ranked team this season.

Aggie sophomore Lauren Ainsley (11-4) tossed four strikeouts and allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks. Wilkinson’s (5-2) dozen strikeouts were offset by one earned run on three hits and four walks.

The Aggies and Bulldogs play game two tomorrow at 3 p.m. Central. A live broadcast of the game can be heard on Sports Radio 1150 AM and watched for free at georgiadogs.com/allaccess/. To learn more about Texas A&M softball, log on to AggieAthletics.com and follow @AggieSoftball on Twitter.

Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics

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