No. 25 Softball hands No. 8 Georgia its first loss, 5-0

Thursday, February 19

Cathedral City, Calif.

2:30 p.m.

University of Texas

8-3

Georgia

11-1

Texas

Georgia

No. 25 Softball hands No. 8 Georgia its first loss, 5-0

02.19.2015 | Softball

Box Score

Freshman pitcher Erica Wright tosses three-hit shutout against the Bulldogs.

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – On a gorgeous Thursday afternoon in Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic action at Big League Dreams Park, No. 25 Texas (8-3) got a clutch three-run double from senior right fielder Marlee Gabaldon, a two-run inside-the-park HR from junior third baseman Stephanie Ceo and a three-hit shutout by freshman pitcher Erica Wright to hand No. 8 Georgia (11-1) its first loss of 2015, 5-0.

With the game scoreless until the top of the seventh inning, Gabaldon unloaded the bases with a clutch two-bagger into the gap before Ceo soon added some insurance on an inside-the-park HR to right center. Sophomore left fielder Stephanie Wong (1-for-2) and junior first baseman Holly Kern (1-for-3, run) added UT's other base hits.

Wright (3-2) was tremendous in the circle, allowing just three hits, walking one and striking out one in her second career complete-game shutout. The victory was her second over a ranked team this season after knocking off No. 16 Arizona State back on Feb. 8 at the Kajikawa Classic, 9-4.

It was a pitcher's duel right from the start between Wright and Georgia's Chelsea Wilkinson as each team managed a single base runner during the opening three innings. Texas' Wong reached a one-out, first-inning walk while a Georgia got an opening frame single to deep short from right fielder Sydni Emanuel.

Texas' offense mounted the first serious scoring chance for either team in the top of the fourth. Wong got things started with one down on a single just over short and on to the grass in left center. A Lindsey Stephens sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch advanced the runner to third. Unfortunately for the Horns, she was left stranded 60 feet from pay dirt on a routine "can of corn" to center.

As has become a habit in the early season, sophomore shortstop Devon Tunning made another terrific catch at short. With two down in the bottom of the fourth, dangerous Georgia shortstop Alex Hugo stepped to the plate and ripped a liner to Tunning's left. The Montgomery, Texas, product reacted quickly, diving fully extended to prevent a base hit.

A Texas miscue got the Bulldogs in business starting the bottom of the fifth. With pinch runner Adele Harrison at second following the lead-off error, designated player Tina Iosefa blooped a ball to shallow center. Stephens charged in hard from her defensive position, corralled the ball and came up throwing, nailing Harrison at the plate for a big first out. UGA catcher Katie Collins stepped to the dish and hit a promising blooper towards second base. With the ball threatening to drop in, UT second baseman Kelli Hanzel dove to her right to make a great diving catch and promptly tagged second while lying on the ground to end the threat on a double play.

A two-out Cortni Emanuel single to short and a walk put two on for Georgia in the bottom of the sixth against Wright. Third baseman Paige Wilson hit a threatening drive into the right center field gap that lwould have granted the Bulldogs the lead. Stephens again came through, however, racing over to make a running catch and send the teams to the seventh at 0-0.

The decisive rally finally came for the Longhorns in the top of the seventh. With Stephens on via a lead-off hit-by-pitch, Kern again delivered a big hit on a single up the middle. Senior designated player Gabby Smith walked to load the bases and set the stage for Gabaldon's heroics. The Odessa, Texas, native promptly drove a shot into the right center field gap, clearing the bases on a two-bagger as UT nabbed a 3-0 advantage. Following a K, Ceo hit a sharp fly that dropped in between in Georgia's center and right fielders. As the ball rolled past the duo in the outfield, Texas' speedster quickly circled the base paths, sliding just under a tag attempt at the plate to make it 5-0.

Faced with one final chance to extend the game, Georgia managed a two-out base runner on a throwing error. Wright induced Collins into a routine pop-up to first, however, as Kern made the catch to end a big UT early-season win.