ATHENS, Ga. – In its second game of the Georgia Classic on Friday, the Gardner-Webb softball team fell to nationally ranked Georgia Bulldogs, 9-0, in six innings.

No. 14 Georgia (11-1) drew first blood in the bottom of the opening inning with a solo home run to take a 1-0 lead, but in the top of the second, the Runnin' Bulldogs threatened.

Maddi Johnson led off the inning with a walk but was called out at second when Rachel Cumiskey reached on a fielder's choice.

The next batter, Lauren Huffman, was hit by a pitch on the second pitch of her at-bat and took first base, moving Cumiskey into scoring position. Unfortunately for the 'Dogs, the duo was left stranded on base and at the end of two, Georgia led, 1-0.

The Bulldogs of Georgia added another run in the bottom of the second, but Gardner-Webb (9-6) would get a runner in scoring position again in the top of the third inning.

Freshman Trinity Sterrett began the frame with a leadoff single and advanced to second on Andria Booth's groundout. Sterrett took third on a wild pitch, but for the second consecutive inning the Runnin' Bulldogs left a runner on base and were unable to score. 

Ashley Wark held Georgia scoreless in the bottom of the third, but after Gardner-Webb was retired in order in the top of the fourth, UGA managed four runs on five hits – four singles and a double – to take a 6-0 lead.

The top of the fifth and sixth innings were a repeat of previous events for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Walks drawn by Huffman and Weslyn Almond in the fifth, and Johnson and Kaylee Wacaster the following inning, gave the 'Dogs runners on base, but they ended each inning stranded on first and second respectively.

With a 6-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth, Georgia used an RBI single and a two-run home run to end the game after six innings and earn the 9-0 victory.

Sterrett recorded Gardner-Webb's only hit of the game, while Johnson drew a pair of walks.

Wark took the loss, giving up five earned runs (nine total) in 5.2 innings. Georgia's Kylie Bass won her fourth game of the year.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will return to action tomorrow, Saturday, February 24, at 10:30 a.m. against College of Charleston and 1 p.m. against ETSU.