ATHENS — Georgia softball needed a win desperately on Wednesday night at Jack Turner Stadium.

Georgia Tech rolled into town at the perfect time.

The No. 16-ranked Bulldogs (31-14) snapped a four-game losing streak with a 7-0 win over the Yellow Jackets (27-20).

It was Georgia’s 12th straight win in the rivalry series dating back to 2012.

“That’s pretty awesome for these seniors,” said UGA coach Lu Harris-Champer, who collected her 1,100th career win. “They went through their whole careers being successful in the series, and I’m proud of them for that.”

Champer was also proud of junior pitcher Mary Wilson Avant (9-4), who tossed a one-hitter, and leadoff hitter Ciara Bryan who connected with her first career grand slam.

Georgia outfielder Ciara Bryan (4) during a softball game between the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech in Athens, Ga., on Wednesday, Apr. 17, 2019. (Photo by Kristin M. Bradshaw)/Dawgnation)

Ciara Bryan hit a grand slam Wednesday night / Kristin M. Bradshaw

Bryan’s blast highlighted a six-run fourth inning for Georgia, the Bulldogs batting around in the order.

“I was attacking the zone,” said Bryan, who was 3-for-4 at the plate including her ninth home run of the season. “I was in my stride, and if the pitch was there, I was ready to hit it.”

Senior Alyssa DiCarlo, arguably the best hitter in the nation with 20 home runs this season and a .413 batting average, sparked that inning with a lead-off single.

It was also DiCarlo who drove in the first run of the night, lifting a sacrifice fly to right field to score Bryan from third in the first inning.

“I was just trying to hit something into right field, either in the gap or in that area of the field,” DiCarlo said. “I just have to do my job, whatever I’m asked to do.”

Georgia returns to action at 6 p.m. on Friday at Jack Turner Stadium for the first of a three-game series against No. 8-ranked Tennessee.

Georgia softball leadoff hitter Ciara Bryan

Georgia shortstop Alyssa DiCarlo

 

Georgia softball coach Lu Harris-Champer