ATHENS — The University of Georgia softball team defeated California, 10-1, in five innings Saturday at the UGA Softball Stadium to win the Athens Super Regional and advance to the 2010 Women’s College World Series.

Georgia (48-11) advances to the Women’s College World Series (WCWS) for the second-straight year after making the program’s initial appearance at the event last year. California concludes its season at 44-19.

In addition to earning a spot in the WCWS in Oklahoma City June 3-9, Saturday’s victory also marked the 500th win at Georgia for head coach Lu Harris-Champer, who’s overall collegiate coaching career record now stands at 709-243-1 over 14 seasons including a 500-179 record in 10 seasons at UGA.

Leading the Lady Bulldogs to the milestone victory on Saturday were juniors Sarah McCloud and Megan Wiggins. McCloud worked her second complete game of the Super Regional limiting the Golden Bears to one run on three hits. She pitched all 12 innings of the series going 2-0 to improve to 13-1 on the year.

Wiggins went 2-for-4 with a grand slam to lead a 10-run, seven-hit offensive attack by the Bulldogs. In addition to the grand slam, Wiggins recorded an infield hit and scored a run on a wild pitch in the top of the first. The hit extended her hitting streak to a school-record tying 20 games (Kim Wendland, 2005). She has also reached base safely in 30-straight contests.

California tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first. After loading the bases, the Golden Bears’ Frani Echavarria drew a bases-loaded walk to push across a run, the only run Georgia and McCloud allowed on the weekend. 

The grand slam from Wiggins then came in the top of the second inning. The Bulldogs proceeded to load the bases with junior Laura Trout drawing a walk and sophomore Ashley Pauly and junior Taylor Schlopy both being hit by a pitch.