ATHENS, Ga. - No. 12 Georgia softball team exploded for 12 runs in the first inning while the pitching staff tossed a no-hitter against North Carolina Central Friday afternoon in the opening game of the 2023 NCAA Athens Regional, beating the Eagles 12-0 in five innings. Georgia improves to 40-13 on the season.

The no-hitter is the fourth in the NCAA Tournament history of the Bulldogs' program. The last was May 19, 2014, in Athens against NC State by current assistant coach Chelsea Wilkinson.

Shelby Walters, Madison Kerpics (18-6), Riley Orcutt, and Kylie Macy combined for the no-no. Kerpics, Orcutt, and Macy each tallied two strikeouts.

At the plate, Dallis Goodnight, Sara Mosley, and Sydney Chambley all had two hits. Chambley drove in five runs while Goodnight tallied three. They each knocked a home run in the game.

A 12-run first inning put the Bulldogs way out in front. The scoring started on an RBI single from Mosley to put Georgia on the board, 1-0. With bases loaded, Chambley knocked a grand slam, the second of her career, to go up 5-0. After an RBI hit from Jaiden Fields, Goodnight knocked her second home run of the season to widen the lead to 9-0. Back-to-back RBI hits from Mosley and Sydney Kuma followed by a sac fly from Chambley completed the 12-run first inning.

The Eagles (19-34) held the Bulldogs scoreless the remainder of the game as Georgia's staff combined to secure the no-hitter in five innings, 12-0.

Up Next

The Bulldogs will take on Virginia Tech Saturday at 1 p.m. ET at Jack Turner Stadium. The winner will earn a spot in Sunday's regional championship game while the loser will face Boston University or NC Central at approximately 6 p.m. ET in the elimination bracket.