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Society calls it a lot of things, depending on what you're doing. In traditionally timed sports like football and basketball, it's called a second-half comeback. When opening Pokémon cards, it's called last pack magic.
What should we call it for softball? Because while there technically isn't a "second half" or a "last pack," it certainly needs a name with how often Georgia is achieving it. Did you see that fifth inning in the 5-2 win over College of Charleston on Friday night to open the NCAA Athens Regional?
It's seemingly become a trait of Georgia's various athletic teams, to start slow and get hot near the end when playing major opponents. It's not a bad thing. Head coach Tony Baldwin called it "erosion."
"You keep trying to wear them down by doing the right things," he explained.
Georgia's agenda is data, not damage.
It happened against Oklahoma in the SEC Tournament, the Sooners taking an early 5-0 lead and the Bulldogs coming from behind with 10 unanswered runs. It was historic.
It happened again Friday night against Charleston in the bottom of the second inning.
After a quick three and out by the Cougars, Tyler Ellison took the plate and flied out to right field. Then Marisa Miller took the plate and grounded out to second base. Two quick outs, which can be perceived as disappointing.
Except, to the Bulldogs, it wasn't.
"If you get too emotional about your outcome, then you're going to have a negative impact on the next at-bat," Baldwin said.
Bailey Lindemuth took the plate and singled to second base, advancing when Emily Digby singled to the short stop. Two outs, two on, bats hot, fans rowdy.
Natalie Ray singled to the pitcher, loading the bases, and the top of the order was coming back around. Everyone had at least one look so far, so everyone was warm. Keirstin Roose reached on a fielder's choice, but instead of Lindemuth scoring, Ray was tagged out at second on a relay play from the short stop to the baseman.
What had grand slam potential kept them at zero longer than they wanted.
"Who wouldn't like it to be a five-run first and the game cruises," Baldwin said. "At the end of the day, you've just got to keep putting together at-bats. Some days they go your way early, and some days they go your way late."
So that's what Georgia did. Put together more at-bats. Good ones that had the grandstands essentially vibrating as hundreds of pairs of feet stomped on the metal and chanted, "U-G-A".
In the bottom of the fifth inning, down 2-0, Digby came up with a single to right field. Ray then singled to third base to get another two on with no outs.
Mollie Mitchell came to pinch run for Digby as Roose came back around and knocked one clear to center field. Mitchell advanced to third, but Ray stayed on first, only allowing Charleston to claim one out on them.
Jaydyn Goodwin copied Roose, more toward left field, and Mitchell stole the run to finally put Georgia on the board, 2-1. Back where they were in the second with two outs, two on, but this time a number on the scoreboard.
Then Sarah Gordon took the plate and launched a rocket over the right center field wall to score Ray and herself and claim the long-awaited lead, 3-2.
The crowd was loud, and the decibel volume probably broke the sound barrier 30 seconds later when Gabi Novickas took the plate and launched her own rocket into the same spot to add a second consecutive home run. The Dawgs were finally loosey, and the going was just getting started.
It's always better late than never, right?
Georgia returns to the field at Jack Turner at 1 p.m. to face UNC Greensboro in the winners bracket on Saturday, May 16.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia softball erodes its opponents, never catalogues the damage
Continue reading...
What should we call it for softball? Because while there technically isn't a "second half" or a "last pack," it certainly needs a name with how often Georgia is achieving it. Did you see that fifth inning in the 5-2 win over College of Charleston on Friday night to open the NCAA Athens Regional?
It's seemingly become a trait of Georgia's various athletic teams, to start slow and get hot near the end when playing major opponents. It's not a bad thing. Head coach Tony Baldwin called it "erosion."
"You keep trying to wear them down by doing the right things," he explained.
Georgia's agenda is data, not damage.
It happened against Oklahoma in the SEC Tournament, the Sooners taking an early 5-0 lead and the Bulldogs coming from behind with 10 unanswered runs. It was historic.
It happened again Friday night against Charleston in the bottom of the second inning.
After a quick three and out by the Cougars, Tyler Ellison took the plate and flied out to right field. Then Marisa Miller took the plate and grounded out to second base. Two quick outs, which can be perceived as disappointing.
Except, to the Bulldogs, it wasn't.
"If you get too emotional about your outcome, then you're going to have a negative impact on the next at-bat," Baldwin said.
Bailey Lindemuth took the plate and singled to second base, advancing when Emily Digby singled to the short stop. Two outs, two on, bats hot, fans rowdy.
Natalie Ray singled to the pitcher, loading the bases, and the top of the order was coming back around. Everyone had at least one look so far, so everyone was warm. Keirstin Roose reached on a fielder's choice, but instead of Lindemuth scoring, Ray was tagged out at second on a relay play from the short stop to the baseman.
What had grand slam potential kept them at zero longer than they wanted.
"Who wouldn't like it to be a five-run first and the game cruises," Baldwin said. "At the end of the day, you've just got to keep putting together at-bats. Some days they go your way early, and some days they go your way late."
So that's what Georgia did. Put together more at-bats. Good ones that had the grandstands essentially vibrating as hundreds of pairs of feet stomped on the metal and chanted, "U-G-A".
In the bottom of the fifth inning, down 2-0, Digby came up with a single to right field. Ray then singled to third base to get another two on with no outs.
Mollie Mitchell came to pinch run for Digby as Roose came back around and knocked one clear to center field. Mitchell advanced to third, but Ray stayed on first, only allowing Charleston to claim one out on them.
Jaydyn Goodwin copied Roose, more toward left field, and Mitchell stole the run to finally put Georgia on the board, 2-1. Back where they were in the second with two outs, two on, but this time a number on the scoreboard.
Then Sarah Gordon took the plate and launched a rocket over the right center field wall to score Ray and herself and claim the long-awaited lead, 3-2.
The crowd was loud, and the decibel volume probably broke the sound barrier 30 seconds later when Gabi Novickas took the plate and launched her own rocket into the same spot to add a second consecutive home run. The Dawgs were finally loosey, and the going was just getting started.
It's always better late than never, right?
Georgia returns to the field at Jack Turner at 1 p.m. to face UNC Greensboro in the winners bracket on Saturday, May 16.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia softball erodes its opponents, never catalogues the damage
Continue reading...
