May 15, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The 23rd-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (44-22) posted a 9-0, five-inning victory over the Campbell Fighting Camels (41-24) in the first game of the 2008 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament in the Chapel Hill Regional at Anderson Stadium on Thursday.

Georgia utilized a two-run first and a seven-run third to produce its nine runs, while junior Christie Hamilton led the Bulldogs from the circle with her ninth complete-game and fifth shutout of the season. Hamilton allowed Campbell to scatter just four hits for the win, which improved her record to 13-4 on the year, while Campbell "s Brittany Stanley took the loss to fall to 25-10.

"It was nice to see us come out and swing the bats," Georgia head coach Lu Harris-Champer said. "I thought we hit the ball really well and played solid defense. Campbell is very good team, and we feel fortunate to come away with the victory today."

"Our battery of Christie ( Hamilton ) in the circle and Melissa (Wood) behind the plate worked really well as a unit to control the game," Harris-Champer added. "Christie was gutsy out there."

In the first at-bat of the 2008 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament, Campbell's Courtney Quinn (2-for-3) singled up the middle, but Hamilton quickly rebounded to get out of the inning and bring the Bulldogs in to bat. In their half of the first, the Bulldogs produced two runs for an early advantage. Senior Sojourner Moody (2-for-2, 2 runs) led off with a single through the left side, and freshman Taylor Schlopy (1-for-1, 1 run) was hit by a pitch in the next plate appearance. Freshman Megan Wiggins (1-for-3, 2 runs) followed with a RBI single up the middle, and two batters later, senior Melissa Wood (1-for-2, 3 RBI) added a sacrifice fly to center.

In the third, the Bulldogs added seven runs on four hits and three Fighting Camel errors to stretch their lead to what would prove to be the final margin of 9-0. Georgia set 10 batters to the plate in the frame starting with Schlopy, who singled down the left field line. Wiggins then reached on a fielding error by second baseman Kelli Michael, and freshman Alisa Goler followed with a walk to load the bases. Wood provided a two-run double to right in the next at-bat, and then two batters after Wood, freshman Jennie Auger recorded an RBI on a single that went off the glove of a diving Shayla Cullum at third base. Junior Kristin Schnake put down a bunt in her at-bat, but a throwing error by Stanley allowed Schnake to reach and advance to second. On the play, Auger moved to third and redshirt sophomore Katie Backer, who pinch ran for Wood, scored. The Fighting Camels then turned to Karlie Love in the circle, but Love"s first pitch was a wild pitch that allowed Auger to score and Schnake to advance to third. Senior Victoria Sanders followed with an RBI groundout to second base. The inning continued as Moody added a double and Schlopy drew a walk. Wiggins again hit into an error, this time a fielding error by Cassie Webb at first base, which allowed Schlopy to score from second.

Georgia advances in the winner's bracket of the Chapel Hill Regional and will face the winner of game two between North Carolina and Brigham Young at 1 p.m. ET on Friday, May 16. Campbell falls to the loser's bracket and will face the loser of the UNC-BYU contest.