ATHENS, Ga. – The UGA Classic, hosted by the 18th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, came to a close Sunday at Jack Turner Stadium when Georgia shut out North Dakota 4-0.

Senior Lauren Mathis (4-1) started in the circle for the Bulldogs. Mathis tossed four complete innings and held a perfect performance her first time through the North Dakota (8-13) lineup, striking out seven of the first nine batters she retired. She finished the day tying a season-best eight strikeouts. Graduate Alley Cutting worked three innings in relief en route to the save. She didn’t allow a hit and fanned five batters.

At the plate, Georgia was led by a three-hit day by freshman Sydney Chambley. She scored two runs and knocked a sixth inning solo home run. She comprised three of Georgia’s five hits. Heads up offense by sophomore Jaiden Fields and a freshman trio made up of Chambley, Haley Eaton, and Payden Bordeau got the Georgia (19-2) offense rolling in the bottom of the second frame. Fields reached on an error and took third on a Chambley single. An RBI ground out off the bat of Eaton plated Fields, and a double to the left field wall by Bordeau drove in Chambley giving Georgia the early 2-0 advantage.

The Bulldogs picked up another run in their end of the third. A leadoff walk drawn by junior Savana Sikes followed by a single up the middle off the bat of junior Lacey Fincher put a Bulldog on each corner. Senior Mackenzie Puckett picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly to center, driving Fincher home and extending the Georgia lead 3-0. Chambley blasted her sixth homerun of the season over the left field wall in the bottom of the sixth, widening the Bulldog lead 4-0. Cutting worked a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh to secure the shutout for Georgia.

The Bulldogs will travel to Kennesaw State Wedneday for a midweek game. The game is set to begin at 5 p.m. Georgia will then open Southeastern Conference play next weekend in Athens when No. 17 Missouri comes to town.

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