No. 13 UGA opens 2023 slate with win over No. 18 UCF

ORLANDO, Fla. – The 13th-ranked Georgia softball team beat No. 18 UCF Thursday afternoon, 4-2, at the UCF Softball Complex to open the 2023 season.

Four Bulldogs combined for four hits: Jaydyn Goodwin, Sara Mosley, Lyndi Rae Davis, and Jaiden Fields. It was Fields who provided the two-run go-ahead hit in the sixth to put Georgia in the lead 3-2.

Dallis Goodnight and Sydney Chambley took advantage of the free bases as they each drew three runs. They each stole two bases. As a team, Georgia stole six bases against the Knights. It was the most stolen bags by Georgia since Feb. 24, 2018, when UGA (1-0) stole nine in a game against Charlotte.

Graduate pitcher Shelby Walters worked four and three innings in her first start, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits. He fanned three batters and did not allow a walk in a no-decision. Junior Madison Kerpics (1-0) pitched two-thirds and two-thirds of a scoreless inning in relief, allowing just one hit with no walks and striking out three.

“I’m really proud of the fight,” head coach Tony Baldwin said. “It’s great to be competing again with the adrenaline. You practice and practice and practice and it’s not the same when the lights come on. There was a great crowd tonight with great competition.

“I thought the key to the game was Shelby [Walters] make pitches to minimize damage. Sara Mosley was outstanding at third base and made some really clutch plays. He also got a big hit to get us on board. Then Jaiden Fields, he’s been clutch his whole career, showed up in the moment and shifted the momentum for us. Madison [Kerpics] come and really clear. It was a total team effort and I hope to be back tomorrow.”

After one and a half scoreless innings, UCF (0-1) broke through in the second by loading the bases with no outs and scoring the go-ahead run on an RBI fielder’s choice. Walters wiggled out of the clock to cap the Knight’s rally, 1-0.

Goodnight led off the top of the third with a walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a groundout. Mosley tied the score with a double to the wall in center, making it 1-1 on Goodnight.

The Knights answered back with an RBI base hit off the bat of Chloe Evans in the top half of the third to carry a 2-1 lead into the fourth.

A pair of free bases to start the sixth inning led to a three-run, go-ahead inning for Georgia. A leadoff walk and batsman hit followed by a bunt for a hit from Davis loaded the bases with nobody out. Fields found a hole in the right side of the infield to drive in Chambley and Sydney Kuma for a 3-2 lead. Fields worked his way to third and then scored on a double to extend the lead to 4-2 for Georgia.

Kerpics held the Knights in the sixth and seventh rounds en route to victory for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs return to action on Friday with a pair of games. Georgia and Ohio State will square off at 11 a.m. and take on Boise State at 1:30 p.m. at the UCF Softball Complex in Orlando. Both games will be live on ESPN+.