Dawgs Defeat UT-Martin

SOFTBALL

Junior Ashley Razey went 3-for-3 with four runs batted in to lead the second-ranked Dawgs to a 6-0 victory over the University of Tennessee Martin on Sunday at Jack Turner Stadium in front of a crowd of 1,018.

With the victory, Georgia (32-4) completed a two-game series sweep UT Martin (20-14) and extended its NCAA Division I leading active home winning streak to 37 games.

From the circle, freshman Morgan Montemayor and senior Katie Murphy dealt the Skyhawks a one-hit shutout. Montemayor (16-2) earned the win after pitching the first six innings striking out seven, and she carried a no hitter into the fifth before Megan Latimer recorded a leadoff single. Murphy entered to pitch the seventh and retired UT Martin one-two-three to close out the contest. Skyhawk starter Kate Vanderham (3-5) pitched just 2.1 innings allowing four runs to suffer the loss.

Razey plated the first of her two RBI in the opening frame on a single to center that scored seniors Megan Wiggins and Brianna Hesson, who reached on a walk and a fielder's choice, respectively.

In the second, Georgia extended the lead to 3-0. Senior Laura Trout led off with a triple down the right field line, and two batters later, senior Taylor Schlopy picked up an RBI on a groundout to second base.

The Dawgs extended their advantage to 5-0 in the third inning. Hesson drew a one-out walk, took second on a wild pitch and scored on a double off the right center wall from Razey. After sophomore Maya Branch entered as a pinch runner, junior Kristyn Sandberg added a run-scoring single to shallow right.

In the fifth, Razey notched her fourth RBI on her second double of the game, this time a line shot to left center that scored Hesson from first. Hesson started the frame off with a single to left.

Sunday's game marked the midway point of a 10-game home stand for the Dawgs. The stretch of games at Jack Turner Stadium continues on Wednesday with a Southeastern Conference double header against 10^th-ranked Tennessee. First pitch of the twin bill is scheduled for 4 p.m.