Georgia softball head coach Tony Baldwin on his Bulldogs improved start in Game 2

The Georgia Bulldogs are fighting for their softball postseason lives in their Super Regional matchup against the host team Florida State. The Bulldogs are looking to bounce back from their 8-1 loss in the opening game of this series but are currently trailing the Seminoles.

Still, it has been a promising start to the game for Georgia, and a victory on Friday night is well within reach.

Before the bottom of the fourth inning got underway, Bulldogs head coach Tony Baldwin was asked about his ball club’s much improved start to Game 2 in comparison to Game 1.

“Well, I felt like we came out a little timid that first time through the order,” said Baldwin when speaking with the ESPN crew covering the series. “But Shorty got us going and gave us a little spark. And the important thing there was we got an answer back. We gave up a couple runs; we came right back, answered back. Shelby goes out and gets us a zero on the board, and now we have gotta keep fighting.”

In Thursday’s matchup, Florida State responded in a big way after Georgia scored the first run of the game in the second inning. The Seminoles responded back with four runs in the third, followed by another four-run inning in the fifth to win the opening game in convincing fashion, 8-1.

In Friday night’s contest between the two teams, this time, Florida State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third before Georgia responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning.

Bulldogs pitcher Shelby Walters has had a solid night on the mound limiting the Seminoles’ bats. There were a few missed pitches on her behalf that aided in the Seminoles’ three-run inning. But aside from that, Walters has been spot on. And Baldwin credits Georgia’s pitching coach Chelsey Wilkerson with helping her calm her nerves in the matchup.

“It was just one little stretch there where she didn’t execute some pitches, and Florida States got a really good team. And if you don’t execute the pitches, they’re gonna make you pay for it, and that’s what happened there. But it’s two good teams going at it in a great atmosphere here tonight. You know, we’re gonna play all seven innings and see what happens.”

Georgia still trails Florida State 4-1 in the sixth inning. Time is running out on the Bulldogs two force a Game 3 and have a chance at a berth in the Women’s College World Series.