Georgia rallies in 14-inning thriller at SEC Tournament

The Bulldogs needed a gritty win, and well, that’s what they got.

Georgia notched their first SEC tournament win since 2019, and Tony Baldwin picked up his first victory as the head coach of the Bulldogs.

“I’m really proud of the ‘scrap, fight, and find a way.’ Lilli [Backes] and Madi [Kerpics] were so competitive in the circle, and I’m so excited to see Madi get back out there and do her thing. While it took a while, we had a lot of competitive at-bats tonight,” said Baldwin following the 14-inning 6-5 victory over Auburn. “Just so proud of our team and their fight and we’ll get back after it tomorrow.”

There have been question marks about the Georgia offense – which Baldwin mentioned in the postgame conference – but with a strength of schedule just second in the nation to none other than the Auburn Tigers, the offense came through when they needed it most.

The sounds from the dugout would argue Georgia is in a different place than even just a few weeks ago… “I believe in us…whatever it takes….we’re winning this ballgame,” were repeated over and over as the Bulldogs continued to go to work. Even when the Dawgs faced a three-run deficit in the bottom of the 14th inning, one could still feel the collective belief in the Georgia dugout.

It was Jayda Kearney who executed a sacrifice bunt back in the third inning and she was also part of the heroics in the top of the 14th inning (something Baldwin may have predicted during his mid-game interview) as she tied the game with a three-one home run Kearney answered KK McCrary’s three-run shot in the top of the inning.

Sarah Gordon shut the door with a walk-off shot to end the ballgame. A collective sigh of relief in the crowd and dugout as the Dawgs’ offense reemerged.

Could this be the game that galvanizes Georgia? Tomorrow is another tough test as the Dawgs face Florida, a squad that took the series from them at home. It would be as good a time as any to avenge a few of their SEC series’ losses.