Georgia Softball Relies on Resiliency to Accelerate Into the Season Being 5-0

The University of Georgia’s softball team advances its season record to 5-0 over the past weekend in the UCF Black and Gold Tournament. Starting Friday, Feb. 17, and concluding Sunday, Feb. 19, the Bulldogs will head to the Red & Black Showcase at their home field, Jack Turner Stadium. They will play Stanford and St. John’s in a series of games on both Friday and Saturday as well as Charlotte on Sunday. The success the Bulldogs have had this season can be credited to a key player, Jayda Kearney.

 

The UCF Black and Gold Tournament featured five UGA victories: UCF (4-2), Ohio State (11-4), Boise State (12-4) and UMass (13-3).

 

Kearney has been a powerhouse this season thus far. Last season, she was named NFCA All-Southeast Region Second Team and ALL-SEC First team, SEC and Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player of the Week and many other honorable mentions. 

 

As a junior outfielder, Kearney had a significant role in the team’s success over the weekend, especially against Ohio State. She set a record, becoming the first Bulldog since 2018 to knock three home runs in a game. Kearney brought the team to the lead with a solo home run to the left, the first for Georgia of the season.

 

“The biggest thing for her is just the growth of feeling more comfortable in her own skin and the belief that she can do it and as she continues to grow that part of her, her talent is just going to continue to shine,” Head Coach Tony Baldwin said.

 

Last season Kearney as well as her teammate Sydney Chambley, a sophomore outfielder, earned NFCA Southeast Region Honors. 

 

Chambley suffered a glove hand injury in March of last season during a collision at first base against Clemson. She played a role in bringing Georgia to the lead in many instances over the weekend. For example, in the game against UMass, she had a bases-clearing triple in the fourth inning bringing the Bulldogs to the lead, 5-3. 

 

“Learning to be resilient is probably the biggest thing,” Baldwin said. “That ability to handle the failures, the outs, how do you deal with the outs- that’s gonna determine the successes that you have.”

 

The Bulldogs have been preparing for the Red & Black Showcase this upcoming weekend. Baldwin recognized the team’s ability to get back and play in the competitive brand of softball last weekend at the UCF Black and Gold Tournament but he sees room for improvement. 

 

Coach Baldwin encourages the players that being the best versions of themselves is winning in a sense. He strives to create an environment that allows the players to be successful.

 

“We’ve been preaching less is more and doing simple better,” Chambley said. “I think when we all buy into that, it allows us as a team, collectively, to be great no matter how we feel or what’s going on.”  

 

During Coach Baldwin’s first season as head coach in 2022, the Bulldogs went 29-8 at home. The Jack Turner Stadium has a 783 all-time home winning percentage.

 

“When the Jack is packed as much as it normally is, it also gives us confidence that there’s more than just ourselves believing in each other,” Chambley said. 

 

The Bulldogs will be playing in the Red & Black Showcase at the Jack Turner Stadium this weekend from Friday, Feb. 17 to Sunday, Feb. 19. The Red & Black Showcase will be streaming on SEC Network and will begin with the Bulldogs facing the Stanford Cardinals at 3:30 p.m.