Florida softball tops Georgia in delayed SEC Tournament slugfest
Georgia softball was bested by 2-seeded Florida, 9-4, in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals on Friday.
After inclement weather postponed the game a day, the Bulldogs and Gators came in at 11:30 a.m. to get the ball rolling. This was the first game for the Gators, who earned the 2-seed with a 43-12 overall and 17-7 in conference end of season records. Seventh-seeded Georgia was coming in off a 14-inning marathon 6-5 win over Auburn.
The game started off slow, with Georgia junior Lilli Backes in the circle through four innings, allowing the Gators to get two runs. In the top of the fifth inning, Georgia freshman Emily Digby clocked a rocket over the right field wall for a two-run home run that tied the score.
THE DAWGS TIE IT UP 🐶#NCAASoftball x 🎥 SECN / @UGASoftball pic.twitter.com/tinDVpRQ02
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 10, 2024
Florida responded with an RBI single and 2024 SEC Player of the Year Jocelyn Erickson launched a three-run homer of her own, pulling the Gators ahead 6-2. It was Erickson's 12th home run of the season.
DEMOLISHED 💣
SEC Player of the Year, @joceyerickson crushes a 3-run homer!
📺 SEC Network | #GoGators pic.twitter.com/7HBeHWRt6Z— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) May 10, 2024
It was a slugfest from there on out. Senior Jayda Kearney took to the plate to start the top of the sixth inning and sent one over the wall. Fifth-year senior Sara Mosley brought the game within two runs with a homer of her own.
However, that's all the juice UGA seemed to have had in it.
Florida's Emily Wilke sent one out, her first of the season, when the Gators took back over. The Gators added a couple more runs and advanced to the semifinals on Saturday. Georgia's tournament ends here as the Bulldogs await the NCAA Tournament selection show on Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Slugfest sends Bulldogs packing, Gators advance in SEC Tournament