Athens, Ga. — Georgia softball opened the 2025 SEC Tournament in dominant fashion, shutting out Kentucky 8-0 in a five-inning mercy-rule victory Tuesday at Jack Turner Stadium. Powered by a five-run fourth inning and a strong outing from senior pitcher Lilli Backes, the Bulldogs earned their first SEC shutout of the season and their 10th run-rule win overall.
“I’m really proud of the way we competed,” said head coach Tony Baldwin. “We played loose, stayed aggressive, and didn’t let the moment get too big.”
The Bulldogs (31-19, 8-16 SEC) took command early but broke the game open in the fourth. Ten batters came to the plate, and all five runs were scored with two outs. The offensive outburst was sparked by a pre-inning reminder of a mantra from former head coach Lu Harris-Champer: “You feel time. You don’t think time.”
“We’d been trying too hard to anticipate pitches,” Baldwin explained. “That inning, we focused on reacting and just letting our timing guide us. You could see the difference.”
Junior outfielder Jaydyn Goodwin led the way at the plate, going 2-for-3 with four RBIs, including a key two-run hit in the fourth. She also made a standout defensive play, snagging a foul ball to end the top half of the inning.
“She’s just a ballplayer,” Baldwin said. “She’s matured into a hitter who has a plan every at-bat. She’s gone from a good player to a better player through discipline and knowing her strengths.”
Goodwin currently leads Georgia in home runs, OPS, and total bases.
On the mound, Backes delivered a composed and efficient performance. In her five-inning complete game, she allowed just three hits, walked two, and struck out six. Kentucky managed only one real scoring opportunity, putting runners at the corners with two outs in the third. After a mound visit from assistant coach Chelsea Wilkinson, Backes induced a groundout to end the threat.
“The message was simple,” Backes said. “‘Just hit your spots. One good pitch can get you out of it.’ That helped me reset.”
Wilkinson knows the stakes well—she was named SEC Tournament MVP back in 2014.
Kentucky’s defense didn’t help its cause, committing two errors and misplaying a catchable fly ball in the outfield. The Wildcats never found rhythm at the plate, and Backes kept them off balance by aggressively attacking the strike zone. Kentucky head coach Rachel Lawson admitted that approach made it tough for her hitters to adjust.
With the win, Georgia advances to face No. 5 seed Arkansas on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 35 minutes after the conclusion of the day’s first game, which begins at 11 a.m.
As Georgia looks ahead, Baldwin said Tuesday’s performance showed more than just talent—it showed growth.
“She’s had that ‘it’ factor since she was 12,” he said of Goodwin. “Nothing’s changed. She just knows how to compete”
