Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
#11 Georgia
Softball Swept by No. 11 Georgia
3/1/2006 9:50:26 PM | Softball
Eagles drop fourth game in two days
ATHENS, Ga. -- The Eastern Michigan softball team was swept in a doubleheader for the second time in as many days as No. 11 Georgia defeated EMU 5-0 and 3-2 at the UGA Softball Complex in Athens, Ga.
With the losses, the Eagles fall to 4-8 on the season, while Georgia improves to 13-4. The setbacks mark the fifth time this season that EMU has dropped a game to a team ranked on the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll.
In game one, a rough first inning was enough to give to the Eagles a defeat. Senior pitcher Nikki Denman (Toledo, Ohio-Sylvania Southview) started the game but lasted just two-thirds of an inning, facing only seven batters. Back-to-back Bulldog homeruns gave Georgia a 5-0 first inning lead. Ashley Godfrey blasted a three run homerun to rightfield and Kasi Carroll followed with a solo shot of her own as the Bulldogs rolled off five first frame runs.
Denman (1-2) was relieved by junior pitcher Aimee Woodrum (Cincinnati, Ohio-Sycamore) who went 5.1 strong innings scattering two hits but the inherited difference was too much. Woodrum now holds a 1.17 ERA for the year pitching 18 innings.
The Eagles, who were held hitless in their previous game to Kennesaw State, started the game with a double to right centerfield by junior shortstop Lauren Clark (Flat Rock, Mich.-New Boston Huron). But EMU managed just one more hit in the game and were shutout for the third consecutive game.
In game two, Georgia again hit a first inning homerun. Courtney Knight hit a solo homer to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage.
The Eagles responded in the third when Clark hit a two-run round tripper, her third homerun of the season, to put EMU up 2-1.
Georgia evened it up in the fifth. Victoria Sander led off the inning with a triple but was thrown out a home on Sojourner Moody’s fielder’s choice. Moody stole second and scored on a single by Knight.
The Bulldogs regained the lead 3-2 in the sixth when Carroll hit a two out double to right centerfield and scored off a Chelsea Cantillo single.
The Green and White rallied to get two runners on base in the final frame when junior outfielder Lindsay Schmid (Madison, Ohio-Madison) and junior designated player Kayla Bluhardt (North Branch, Mich.-North Branch) each singled. However, the rally came up just short as pinch hitter Denman struck out to end the game.
Junior pitcher Michelle Lloyd (Akron, Ohio-Archbishop Hoban) went six inning allowing eight hits but picked up the loss and falls to 1-4 on the season.
The Eagles continue their busy week when they compete in the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic, Friday, March 3-5. EMU has scheduled games with Dartmouth, Minnesota, Syracuse and Winthrop.
