Puailoa’s homer sends Bulldogs to world series

Down to her last strike in the bottom of the seventh, Kaylee Puailoa hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer as Georgia defeated Florida 3-2 to earn a trip to the college softball world series.

Florida had taken a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth and appeared headed for victory to force a Game 3 Saturday. But Maeve McGuire reached first on an infield single and Puailoa pinch hit for Lacey Sumerlin. Chelsea Wilkinson (27-7) went the distance for the win for Georgia (45-18). Aleshia Ocasio took the loss for Florida (56-7).

In Game 1 Thursday night, Wilkinson tossed a three-hit shutout as the No. 16 seeded Bulldogs defeated No. 1 seeded Florida 3-0.

McGuire went 3-for-3 and drove in two runs. Alyssa DiCarlo had two hits and scored two runs.

The Bulldogs took the lead in the fourth as McGuire singled in DiCarlo. In the sixth inning McGuire again drove in DiCarlo to make it 2-0, and then Brea Dickey came in to score on a ground out by Katie Browne to make it 3-0.

Delanie Gourley (19-4) gave up three runs on seven hits and took the loss.

This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 7:12 PM with the headline "Puailoa’s homer sends Bulldogs to world series."