TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Sophomore Sarah McCloud tossed a complete-game shutout to lead 11th-ranked Georgia (15-2) to a 2-0 upset over top-ranked Washington (20-2) on Sunday afternoon in the Easton SEC/Pac-10/Big 12 Challenge at the University of Alabama Softball Complex.

It marks the second-ever win over a No. 1-ranked opponent for the Bulldogs, and they have now won two of their last three games against No. 1-ranked opponents. Georgia ‘s first win over a top-ranked opponent came in the final game of the regular season in 2008, when the Bulldogs defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 4-2 in Athens.

McCloud improved to 7-1 on the year by working her fourth complete game shutout, and she allowed just five Huskies to reach base on three hits and two walks while striking out three. Washington’s Danielle Lawrie suffered her first loss this season to fall to 15-1 after allowing two runs on six hits in three innings.

Freshman Ashley Pauly gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 in the second inning. After sophomore Brianna Hesson led the frame off with a double to left, freshman Maya Branch moved Hesson to third on a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later with two outs, Pauly singled up the middle to score the run. Up to that point, Lawrie had pitched 90.0 consecutive innings without surrendering an earned run, and entering Sunday’s contest she had allowed just five runs, two earned, this season in 100.1 innings.

In the third, Georgia added its second run to give the game its final margin. Senior Kristin Schnake started the inning with a bunt single. Later in the inning with two outs, Schnake stole second setting up an RBI double to center from Hesson.

The win gave Georgia a 3-1 mark in the Easton Southeastern Conference/Pacific-10/Big 12 Challenge, and following Sunday’s game, both McCloud and Schnake were named to the all-tournament team. McCloud went 2-0 in the tournament with a pair of complete game shutouts, and Schnake batted .444 (4-for-9) with three runs scored, two RBI, two walks and four stolen bases.

Washington’s Lawrie and Ashlyn Watson were also named to the all-tournament team. The other participating teams, Alabama and Baylor, will also have two players named to the eight-member team following the conclusion of the Easton Challenge’s final game between those schools.

Up next, Georgia will continue its six-game road swing by opening up SEC play with a double header at Florida on Wednesday before returning home to host LSU for a three-game series March 14-15.

- Georgia Sports Communications