Dawgs Earn First SEC Weekly Honors of the Season

UGA Sports Communications

Kendall Buton

The Southeastern Conference has named Georgia softball student-athletes Kendall Burton and Brittany Gray the SEC Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively.

The pair led 25th-ranked Georgia to a 4-1 start in the 2018 campaign over the weekend in Arizona at the Kajikawa Classic. The Dawgs defeated top-20 teams in #15 Utah and #19 BYU. Georgia outscored its opponents 51-12 in five games including 12 home runs and hitting .418 as a team.

At the plate, Burton hit .722 on the weekend with 13 hits including a pair of home runs. She touched home six time and drove in five runs. Her home run against #3 Oregon was the first of her career in a Dawg uniform. The senior outfielder from Missouri City, Texas had multiple hits in all five games. She began the season going 4-for-4, a career best, in the 23-2 win over San Diego State. She finished opening weekend with a .722 on-base clip and a 1.056 slugging percentage.

Gray made three starts in the circle for Georgia on opening weekend. She pitched two scoreless, hitless innings in the opener against San Diego State. On Friday, she worked a complete game against #15 Utah, allowing one unearned run on five hits, striking out five and walking none. She capped the weekend with a complete-game shutout of Oregon State on Saturday. The Beavers only got four hits off the Greenwood, Indiana native while she struck out 10 in the process, one shy of tying a career high. She recorded a 0.00 ERA in 16 total innings with 17 total strikeouts.

The SEC weekly honors are firsts for both Burton and Gray. The last time Georgia had both the player and pitcher of the week was May 4, 2009 when Taylor Schlopy (player) and Chelsea Hamilton (pitcher) both won.

Georgia opens its home schedule this weekend when the Dawgs host the 11th Annual Red & Black Showcase. Evansville, Samford, and Winthrop will all be in Athens for the 10-game tournament, beginning Friday.

48 UGA Student-Athletes Named to SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll

Forty-eight student-athletes from the University of Georgia have been named to the 2011-2012 Southeastern Conference First-Year Academic Honor Roll, according to an announcement this week by the SEC office.

In order to qualify for the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll, each student-athlete must: have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher at the nominating institution; be on scholarship or a letter winner; have completed 24 semester hours of non-remedial credit at the nominating institution; and have been a member of the varsity team for the sport’s entire NCAA Championship segment.

The following UGA students received first-year honors:

Baseball:
Justin Bryan, Lavonia, Ga., Business; Hunter Cole, Moore, S.C., Biology; Pete Nagel, Metter, Ga., Sport Management; DJ Smith, Woodstock, Ga., Criminal Justice; John Taylor, Carnesville, Ga., Business.

Equestrian:
Kylee Arbuckle, Torrance, Calif., Business; Samantha Belcher, Carbondale, Colo., Animal Science; Madi Berger, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Animal Science; Madi Clark, Brighton, Mich., Animal Health; Morgan Justiss, Alpharetta, Ga., Business; Megan Southam, Langley, B.C., Biology; Paige Stawicki, Argyle, Texas, Genetics; Lauren Tieche, Jamestown, N.Y., Business.

Football:
David Andrews, Johns Creek, Ga., Agribusiness; Chris Conley, Dallas, Ga., Journalism; Watts Dantzler, Dalton, Ga., Health & Physical Education.

Men’s Golf:
Nicholas Reach, Moscow, Pa., Business.

Soccer:
Kathleen Eastman, Jackson Hole, Wyo., English; Jenna Owens, Highlands Ranch, Colo., Exercise & Sport Science.

Softball:
Gracie Goulder, Scottsdale, Ariz., Special Education; Niaja Griffin, Orlando, Fla., Recreation & Leisure Studies.

Men’s Swimming & Diving:
Nic Fink, Morristown, N.J., Agriculture Engineering; Derek Onken, Marietta, Ga., Mathematics; Luke Upchurch, Duluth, Ga., Exercise & Sport Science.

Women’s Swimming & Diving:
Olivia Boggs, Smyrna, Ga., Business; Sommers Creed, Braselton, Ga., Unspecified; Lauren Harrington, Memphis, Tenn., Journalism; Maddie Locus, Sugarland, Texas, Mathematics; Jordan Mattern, Aurora, Colo., Biology; Amber McDermott, Mill Creek, Wash., Journalism; Anna Neumeister, Marietta, Ga., Business; Darcie O’Brien, Lawrenceville, Ga., Journalism; Shannon O’Malley, Marietta, Ga., Unspecified.

Women’s Tennis:
Lauren Herring, Greenville, N.C., International Affairs.

Men’s Track & Field:
Brendan Hoban, Duluth, Ga., Turfgrass Management; Cameron Meyer, Lake Charles, La., Sport Management; Zach Sims, McDonough, Ga., Mathematics; Austin Ulich, Alpharetta, Ga., Business.

Women’s Track & Field:
Anna Bowles, Evans, Ga., Exercise & Sport Science; Quintunya Chapman, Hinesville, Ga., Exercise & Sport Science; Rachel Gibson, Marietta, Ga., Sport Management; Carly Hamilton, Springboro, Ohio, Business; Taylor Hollingsworth, Columbus, Ga., Nutrition Science; Brooke Koblitz, Alpharetta, Ga., Mathematics Education; Morgann Leleux, New Iberia, La., Journalism; Sarah Perry, Lawrenceville, Ga., Biology; Allison Updike, Nesquehoning, Pa., Sport Management.

Volleyball:
Gaby Smiley, Alpharetta, Ga., Exercise & Sport Science.

UGA Athletic Board Report

UGA ATHLETICS

A fiscal year 2013 budget of $92,130,725 and three facility-related projects were approved Thursday highlighting the quarterly meeting of the University of Georgia Athletic Association Board of Directors.

The facility-related projects totaling an estimated $2,731,000 include:

1. $1,006,000 to upgrade scoreboards at baseball, softball and soccer. The existing scoreboards at each of these venues have been in service for seven years. The upgrades would replace the video displays which will provide an enhanced game-day experience for fans and student-athletes.

2. $1,350,000 to begin the process of renovations to Foley Field. A segment of the funds will be dedicated to aesthetic enhancements to the facility, which includes a sound system improvement, new landscaping beyond the outfield wall and improvements to Kudzu Hill, which will be completed prior to the 2013 baseball season. A segment of funds will be dedicated to an architect and engineer and construction manager to begin planning for renovations and enhances to the main entry, exterior plaza, concourses, concession stands and rest rooms, and handicapped accessibility throughout the facility, which would include renovations to the press box. A timetable for this segment of the project has not been determined.

3. $375,000 for Sanford Stadium Gate 10 renovations (under the bridge). The project improves the main entrance gate and passageway to include a large arched entry portal and piers, wider pathways, and new campus standard light poles to improve safety features.

The athletic director’s report also included an update on the three-year extension of football coach Mark Richt’s contract. The contract, which is expected to be finalized and signed soon, will provide the potential for performance bonuses to double from the current $400,000 maximum to $800,000. Included will be bonuses for appearances in the SEC Championship game, BCS national championship game, BCS non-championship bowl game, non-BCS bowl games, and top five finish in the national polls. There is also a provision for a team academic performance bonus of $50,000 which was part of his current contract.

Lady Bears Stop Dawgs

SOFTBALL

The Baylor softball team struck for five runs in the bottom of the first inning and padded the lead with three more in the fifth, claiming an eventual 9-2 win over Georgia in the rubber match of the NCAA Athens Super Regional Sunday evening in front of 1,483 at Jack Turner Softball Stadium. With the win, Baylor advances to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City June 2-8 while the Dawgs end their season at 51-14.

After dropping game one by a 5-1 score yesterday, Georgia responded in a big way today, posting a 14-2 romp of Baylor in this afternoon’s second game to even the series at 1-1 and force tonight’s match-up. But the Lady Bears took control in the first inning and never looked back as hurler Whitney Canion went the distance, allowing just two runs over seven innings of work, walking two and striking out three.

Georgia starter Morgan Montemayor – the game one winner – took the loss, falling to 27-5 for her freshman campaign. Montemayor allowed five runs on four hits without making it out of the first. Erin Arevalo came on in relief of Montemayor and threw four innings, allowing three runs on four hits.

The Dawgs eight-member senior class wraps up its tenure with an overall record of 194-63, a total that includes 127 home wins to mark the most of any Georgia class. The group owns 144 spots in the record book, including 13 single-season records and nine career-best totals.

“I’m so proud of Baylor in the second game,” said head coach Lu Harris-Champer. “Whitney Canion pitched a great game. I’m happy for them and I wish them well in Oklahoma City. I’m also proud of our team and the way we fought hard. Incredibly proud of our seniors and the legacy that they’ve left on this program is second to none.”

After a scoreless top of the first for Georgia, Baylor put up the five-spot with the big blow coming on a three-run shot off the bat of Megan Turk to left center that gave the Lady Bears the early 5-0 lead.

Georgia got one of those back in the top of the second as right fielder Brianna Hesson started the inning with a double in the gap in right. Ashley Razey moved her to third on a grounder to the second baseman KJ Freeland, before Kristyn Sandberg lined one to the wall in left center to score Hesson on the double, cutting it to 5-1.

Following two scoreless innings from Arevalo, Sandberg collected her second RBI of the game as she hammered a solo shot to straightaway center to make it 5-2, becoming the sixth Georgia player to hit 10 home runs this season.

The bottom of the fifth was more trouble for the Dawgs, as a two-out single from catcher Kelsi Kettler made it 6-2 before Sydney Wilson smacked a two-out, two-run homer over the scoreboard in left to push it to 8-2 in favor of BU. Alison Owen came out of the pen for Georgia and was greeted by a tripled from Kayce Walker, but Owen eventually stranded her at third to avoid further damage.

Georgia made a little noise in the top of the sixth as Trout laced a two-out single to center to send Ashley Pauly to the plate with two on, but Pauly flied to deep right to retire the side and end the threat.

Canion gave herself more insurance with a one-out bomb over the tree line in center to increase the lead to 9-2. Alisa Goler reached in the Georgia seventh but Schlopy hit into a game-ending double play as the Lady Bears held on to punch their ticket to Oklahoma City.

The Dawgs had their run at three straight WCWS appearances cut short in Georgia’s third time hosting a Super Regional. The Dawgs were playing in their 10th NCAA tournament, all under Harris-Champer’s leadership, now with a 40-20 all-time record in the postseason.

In today’s early game, the Dawgs put 14 runs across, including 10 in the fourth inning. The 14-run output marked Georgia’s postseason record. The Dawgs’ five home runs tied the school’s single-game record in that category.

Dawgs Bomb Baylor

SOFTBALL

A 10-run fourth propelled the Georgia softball team to a 14-2 five-inning win over Baylor in the second game of the NCAA Athens Super Regional to force game three tonight at the Jack Turner Softball Stadium. First pitch of the nightcap is set for 6:20 p.m. ET.

Georgia (51-13) will battle the Lady Bears (44-13) looking to secure a trip to the NCAA Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City June 2-8. The trip would be the Dawgs’ third in program history and third consecutive.

Georgia’s 14 runs set a post-season school record and tied the squad’s season-best output. The Dawgs cranked out 13 hits after managing just three in yesterday’s 5-1 loss in game one.

Morgan Montemayor and Sarah McCloud combined to limit Baylor to just two runs on five hits, with Montemayor earning the win to improve to 27-4 on the season. Five different players – Megan Wiggins, Taylor Schlopy, Ashley Razey, Kristyn Sandberg, and Laura Trout left the yard for Georgia, tying the school record for most home runs in a game. Trout’s homer was the first of her career as the Dawgs now have 11 players with at least one home run on the season.

Georgia put two on the board in both the second and third innings to build the early 4-0 lead before the fourth-inning explosion. The Dawgs kept Baylor scoreless until the Lady Bears plated two in the bottom of the fourth on a live drive single to left off the bat of Kayce Walker.

Seven Georgia players knocked in runs on the afternoon, led by Schlopy’s three RBI.

Dawgs Sweep LSU

SOFTBALL

Freshman Morgan Montemayor pitched a two-hit shutout as No. 1 Georgia completed a Southeastern Conference series sweep over No. 21 LSU with a 12-0, five-inning victory on Sunday at Jack Turner Softball Stadium in front of a season-high crowd of 1,392.

With the sweep, the top-ranked Dawgs improved to 21-1 on the year and are off to a 3-0 start in SEC action while LSU falls to 15-10 overall and 0-5 in league play. For the series, UGA outscored LSU, 26-3, while batting .412 as a team.

Montemayor (9-1) faced LSU for the second time in as many days and provided nearly identical results. Having already tossed a four-hit shutout on Saturday, Montemayor returned to the circle Sunday to shutout out the Tigers again, this time allowing just two hits and striking out a career-high 10 batters.

From the plate, Georgia aided Montemayor with five runs in the first and seven runs in the third as four Dawgs each provided two RBI in the game including seniors Alisa Goler and Laura Trout and juniors Ashley Pauly (2-for-2) and Ashley Razey (2-for-3)

In the opening inning, senior Taylor Schlopy lead off with walk and moved around to third on a double to center from senior Megan Wiggins (2-for-3). Next, Goler drew a walk and ball four was a wild pitch that allowed Schlopy to score and left runners on second and third. Razey then followed driving in her two RBI on a double to center. Later in the inning with two outs, Trout drove in two runs on a single to left.

LSU starter Rachele Fico did not return to the circle in the second inning and took the loss to fall to 5-7.

In the third inning, Georgia batted around for the 12^th time this season to produce seven more runs and extend the lead to 12-0. With Razey and junior Kristyn Sandberg aboard on a pair of single, freshman Julia Echols put down a sacrifice bunt and a throwing error on the play allowed Razey to score. Three batters later with two outs and runners on second and third, Pauly picked up her two RBI with a single to right. Following a fielding error that extended the inning, Wiggins added a run-scoring single to right and Goler capped inning with a two-run double to center.

With the series sweep over LSU, Georgia went 4-0 on the week with three run-rule victories including an 8-0, five inning win over Penn State on Thursday. Pauly led the team in batting average over those four games at .875 (7-for-8, 5 RBI) while Goler provided a team-best nine RBI while slugging 1.444. Wiggins led the team on the week with eight runs scored while adding seven RBI of her own, and Schlopy finished with seven runs scored.

Up next, Georgia takes to the road traveling to Columbia, S.C., on Wednesday to face South Carolina (16-7, 3-2 SEC). The Dawgs and the Gamecocks will play a double header starting at 4 p.m. ET.

No. 1 Georgia Downs Penn State, 8-0, In Five Innings

SOFTBALL

Senior Megan Wiggins went 2-for-2 with four RBI including a three-run home run to lead the No. 1-ranked Dawgs to an 8-0, five-inning victory over Penn State on Thursday evening at Jack Turner Softball Stadium.

In a game that was added to the schedule just 12 hours prior to first pitch, Georgia (18-1) scored its eight runs on five hits, nine walks and four stolen bases.

Meanwhile, senior Sarah McCloud (2-0) and junior Erin Arevalo combined to shutout Penn State (8-7) allowing just two hits. McCloud started and worked the first four innings, and Arevalo worked the fifth.

Georgia took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Senior Taylor Schlopy drew a leadoff walk, stole second, moved to third on a single from Wiggins and scored on a wild pitch from Nittany Lion starter Jackie Hill (5-4). Wiggins later scored on a sacrifice fly from senior Brianna Hesson.

In the second, the Dawgs extended their lead to 5-0. With runners on second and third, Schlopy narrowly missed a home run as she recorded a two-run triple on a ball off the top of the wall in right center. Wiggins followed with a sacrifice fly to left.

Wiggins put the game out of reach in the fourth with a three-run, line-drive home run to right. Junior Ashley Pauly and Schlopy were aboard for the round tripper after doubling and walking, respectively. It marked the fifth home run of the season for Wiggins.

Also of note for the Dawgs on Thursday, senior Alisa Goler, who was celebrating her birthday, drew two walks to establish a new UGA career walks record at 140.

Up next, Georgia opens Southeastern Conference play with a three-game series against No. 21 LSU (15-7, 0-2 SEC) on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET. The Dawgs and Tigers then play again on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

Admission is free to all regular season home games at Jack Turner Stadium. For Saturday's UGA-LSU game, the first 500 fans will receive Georgia Softball Silly Bands.