Thursday March 28th, 2024 2:41PM

DiCarlo powers No. 7 Lady Bulldogs past Northwestern in regional

By AccessWDUN

ATHENS — Junior shortstop Alyssa DiCarlo hit three, two-run home runs in seventh-ranked Georgia softball’s 12-0 six-inning shutout of Northwestern (37-18) Saturday afternoon at Jack Turner Stadium.

The Bulldogs (45-11) advance to play Sunday at noon for a berth to the NCAA Super Regional.

DiCarlo finished the day 4-for-4 with six RBI and four runs scored. Her three home runs and four runs scored sets a new career best while her hits and RBI ties career highs. She tied the school record for single-game home runs set by Geri Ann Glasco against South Carolina in Apr. 2013. The mark is a new NCAA Tournament best at Georgia; she is only the fourth player in the history of the NCAA Tournament to hit three home runs in a single game. Her six RBI also ties Georgia’s NCAA Tournament record. The Glendale, Arizona native now has 19 home runs in 2018, tying for fifth in a single-season. Her 43 career home runs now ranks tied for seventh all-time.

Georgia out hit the Wildcats 11-6. Cortni Emanuel and Justice Milz each had two-hit games. Milz had two RBI while Mahlena O’Neal drove in three on a bases-loaded double in the third. Emanuel also recorded her 50th stolen base of the season.

After a successful game in the circle on Friday, Mary Wilson Avant pitched three scoreless innings in her start, holding the Wildcats to a single hit. Kylie Bass (14-3) earned the win in relief, pitching one and two-thirds innings.

Georgia was the designated visiting team in Saturday’s game.

Georgia jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning when DiCarlo blasted her 17th home run of the season, a two-run shot, to straight-away centerfield.

With bases full of Bulldogs in the top of the third, O’Neal laced a bases-clearing double to right center, widening the lead to 5-0 on the Wildcats.

DiCarlo’s second two-run home run of the game put Georgia ahead 7-0 in the top of the fifth, nothing her fourth multi-home run game this season.

The Bulldogs wrapped up the offensive performance with five, sixth-inning runs. The scoring started with a sacrifice fly off the bat of Ciara Bryan. Milz followed with a two-RBI base hit and the inning was capped with DiCarlo’s third, two-run blast into the pines, 12-0.

Keara Napoli pitched the sixth and final inning for Georgia.

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