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April 25, 2009

Box Score

ATHENS, Ga. - In front of 1,522 sun-drenched fans on a 90-degree Saturday afternoon at the UGA Softball Stadium in Athens, Ga., a solo home run from UGA's Kristin Schnake in the bottom of the third inning proved enough as No. 8 Georgia (35-8, 15-6 SEC) defeated No. 15 Tennessee (36-12-1, 11-9-1 SEC), 1-0, in the opener of the teams' three-game series.

Freshman pitcher Cat Hosfield dropped to 27-10 on the season after allowing a single run on just two hits with a walk and a strikeout over 2.2 frames of work. Senior Danielle Pieroni fired 2.1 no-hit innings in relief, and sophomore Ashton Ward was perfect in her one-inning appearance.

After a quick one-two-three inning for the Lady Vol offense in the first, Georgia lead-off hitter Taylor Schlopy granted the Bulldogs some early life in the bottom half with a high bouncing single off the glove of leaping third baseman Jessica Spigner. With shortstop Kristin Schnake at the plate facing a 2-1 count, Schlopy swiped second to reach scoring position. Hosfield walked Schnake, placing two aboard for UGA with still no one retired. Dangerous third baseman Alisa Goler lifted a towering fly ball to center but nowhere near deep enough as sophomore Kelly Grieve moved over the make the grab. Georgia first baseman Brianna Hesson grounded out to second as the Big Orange moved within an out of escaping a big first inning jam. Spigner handled a bouncer from designated player Tori Moody as the Bulldogs left a pair stranded.

UT recorded its initial base occupant opening the second inning as Spigner ripped a 1-2 offering from Christie Hamilton into center for a single. Junior second baseman Nicole Kajitani delivered a perfect sacrifice bunt out in front of the plate, advancing the runner into scoring position. On a 1-1 pitch junior right fielder Erinn Webb fouled out to Bulldog catcher Kristyn Sandberg. A Lady Vol strikeout ended the frame as Tennessee left Spigner standing on second.

Hosfield roared through the bottom of UGA's line-up one-two-three in the bottom of the second, bringing up the Lady Vol offense looking to get a threat started. Freshman designated player Shelby Burchell managed to reach by being struck by a Hamilton offering leading off the top of the third. Unfortunately, a Big Orange strikeout and a fielder's choice that cut down the runner at second marked two quick retirements. Grieve swiped her team-best 33rd base of the campaign to reach scoring position, but another UT "K" derailed any scoring opportunity.

Georgia struck first on the scoreboard with two down in the bottom of the third as Schnake blasted a 0-2 pitch from Hosfield just over the wall in left center for a 1-0 Bulldog lead. Tennessee summoned in Pieroni in relief, and the Madison, Tenn., native retired Goler on a ground ball to second as Kajitani made a solid play on a tough hop to end the frame.

Hesson coerced a lead-off walk from Pieroni starting the bottom of the fourth and immediately advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Moody. Sandberg fell behind in the count 0-2 before lining harmlessly to UT first baseman Jen Lapicki for the second out of the frame. UGA left fielder Jennie Auger lifted a ball to shallow right near the foul line. Webb raced over from her defensive position and made an inning-ending catch on the run.

Neither offense managed much until the bottom of the sixth as Schnake led off the frame by drawing a walk. Ward entered in relief to battle the dangerous Goler and allowed a sharp liner to center. Grieve raced in and dove fully to make an outstanding catch for a huge first out of the inning. Spigner handled consecutive ground balls to third from Hesson and Moody, keeping the deficit at one run heading to UT's last chance in regulation.

Huff ripped the first pitch of the top of the seventh to third as Goler made the play across the diamond for out number one. Spigner worked the count against Hamilton to 3-2 before staying alive by fouling off five straight pitches. The Santa Clarita, Calif., native eventually swung and missed at the 12th pitch of the at-bat for the second out. Kajitani fell behind 0-2 before battling as well to foul off five straight pitches at the plate. The San Bernardino, Calif., product lifted a little pop-up outside of third as Goler drifted back to make the catch in foul ground to conclude the one-run victory for the Bulldogs.

No. 15 Tennessee will continue Saturday's doubleheader against No. 8 Georgia at approximately 3:20 p.m. ET at the UGA Softball Stadium in Athens, Ga. The Sports Animal (990 AM, 99.1 FM, 99.3 FM) is on site to broadcast all three games in the series. Live stats are also available through utladyvols.com.