Game one – Georgia 8, Mizzou 0
Cierra Harrison took the mound in game one of the series and was quickly greeted by Georgia’s offense. The Bulldogs used small ball to score all five of their first-inning runs. After a leadoff single from senior Jaydyn Goodwin and back-to-back walks, a fielder’s choice would score the first run of the game. Freshman Gabi Novickas then knocked in an RBI single, followed by another RBI single from senior Natalie Ray. Junior Emily Digby walked in a run, and freshman Brooke Smith then hit a sacrifice fly to put the Bulldogs up 5-0 early.
Junior Randi Roelling toed the slab for Georgia and was dominant, allowing just one hit from a struggling Missouri offense.
Georgia tacked on an additional three runs in the third inning, this time using the long ball. Novickas hit her fifth home run of the year, forcing Harrison off the mound and subbing in Courtney Donahue in her place. Georgia scored its next two runs on RBI singles from Digby and senior Sarah Gordon.
The Tigers were run-ruled in five innings.
Game two – Mizzou 4, Georgia 3
Game two of the series was more competitive and had a slower start, as neither team scored until the fourth inning.
Georgia sophomore Addisen Fisher started game two of the series and delivered a strong performance until running into some trouble in the fourth and fifth innings.
The Tigers’ offense broke out of their scoreless slumber as freshman Saniya Hill knocked in an RBI single in the fourth inning, giving Missouri a 1-0 lead
Freshman phenom Abby Carr kept the party going next inning with a 2-RBI single. Freshman Sidney Forrester then hit an RBI single of her own, bringing the Tigers’ lead to 4-0.
Missouri junior Marissa McCann replaced Fisher on the mound and pitched just as well, if not better, going four innings unscathed. She did, however, run into trouble in the fifth inning, as Goodwin would single off of her. McCann then walked the next two batters and was relieved by Carr.
Carr inherited the bases loaded and walked the next two runs, but got through the rest of the game relatively smoothly and picked up the three-inning save.
Game three – Georgia 4, Mizzou 0
Harrison toed the slab for the rubber match of the series and pitched a much better start compared to her woeful series debut.
She held Georgia scoreless in the first inning, but allowed the Bulldogs to get on the board in the second following a double from Ray, a single from Digby and an RBI single from sophomore Bailey Lindemuth. Harrison ran into more trouble in the third after giving up a single and a double, leading to her exit with McCann coming in relief.
Ray then hit a sacrifice fly, driving in the second run of the game for Georgia.
McCann would give up two separate solo shots in the fourth and fifth innings, bringing Georgia’s lead to 4-0.
In a retelling of the series opener, Roelling dominated the Tigers once again, holding them scoreless over her 12 innings pitched this series. They logged only four hits, with only one going for extra bases.
The Tigers will next take on Kansas at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Arrocha Ballpark in Lawrence.
