Indiana Takes Down No. 6 Georgia, 6-4, to Remain Perfect on the Season

Sunday, February 10

Boca Raton, Fla.

11:15 AM

Indiana University

5-0

Georgia

4-1

Indiana

Georgia

Indiana Takes Down No. 6 Georgia, 6-4, to Remain Perfect on the Season

2/10/2019 3:50:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Indiana Softball improved to 5-0 on the season as the Hoosiers defeated No. 6 Georgia on Sunday afternoon at the FAU First Pitch Classic, 6-4. The start is the best to a season since the 1990 campaign. In addition, it is the highest ranked win since the 2011 season when the Hoosiers defeated then-No. 3 Michigan.

KEY MOMENTS
• After the Bulldogs led off the third with a pair of base hits, Georgia used back-to-back sacrifice flies to take a 2-0 lead, plating Jordan Doggett and CJ Landrum.
• The Hoosiers responded immediately, plating three runs in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. After a single from sophomore Grayson Radcliffe and double by junior Bella Norton put two in scoring position, the Hoosiers turned to small ball as sophomore Maddie Westmoreland laid down a bunt single, plating pinch runner Makayla Ferrari. A stolen base from pinch runner Karly Combs again pushed a pair of runners into scoring position as sophomore Annika Baez laid down a bunt single of her own to score pinch runner Paige Chitwood. Combs then came home for the third run on a Georgia fielding error at the plate.
• Indiana tacked on a run in the fifth as Lambert collected her second hit of the day on a single before stealing a pair of bases. Westmoreland brought her home on a bloop single to shallow left field.
• The Bulldogs cut the IU lead to 4-3 in the sixth on an RBI single by Lacey Fincher. The tying run nearly crossed one batter later as a long fly ball sent Alyssa DiCarlo home, however the third base umpire called her out for not tagging up.
• Indiana pushed the lead back up to 6-3 as sophomore Grayson Radcliffe knocked a two-run homer to right field, also bringing in Lambert, who reached on a walk.
• Georgia got one run back quickly as Mahlena O'Neal led off the home half of the seventh with a homer. The Bulldogs further threatened as a fielder's choice, single and walk loaded the bases with two away. However, Trainer forced a groundout to first base the secure the win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Lambert once again had an impressive day at the plate with a 2-for-3 outing with two runs and a walk.
• Radcliffe also collected a pair of hits with two RBI and a run. Her home run was the third of her career and the first in a Hoosier uniform. In addition, it was the first homer of the season for the team.
• Westmoreland went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
• Trainer collected her third win of the weekend, tossing all 7.0 innings and striking out four.

HEAD COACH SHONDA STANTON
"I'm really happy for Team 46 and our kids. This is what it's about – it's their time. For me as a coach, it's practice and for them, it's game time. They really showed out. We have an All-American pitcher in the circle but we had everybody chip in this weekend. We talked earlier in the week about owning the moment, we owned the stage this weekend.

You're talking about one of the best hitting teams in the country in Georgia, they're going to win a lot of ball games. They are a caliber program that has a storied history and the tradition. Tara handled herself, she had the bounce-back ability whether it was giving up a big hit or the defense not making a play, she stayed steady. She stayed calm, that's what your senior does."

UP NEXT
Indiana travels to Durham, N.C. next weekend to take part in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Hoosiers will play a pair of games against both Duke and Syracuse with action beginning Friday night against the Blue Devils.