Georgia Left-Handed Pitcher Lilli Backes throws a pitch during the Georgia vs. USC Upstate softball game at Jack Turner Stadium in Athens, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.

The 16th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs defeated the USC Upstate Spartans 3-2 on Wednesday in the ninth inning in front of 1,825 fans. (Photo/Kaleb A Tatum, @ktat.photography) Kaleb A Tatum @ktat.photography

No. 24 Georgia softball held on to defeat Georgia Tech 5-2 in Atlanta on Tuesday. The Bulldogs are now 36-11 all-time in the rivalry series.

Left-handed ace Lilli Backes led Georgia in the circle to start the night.

She experienced some early control issues, giving up back-to-back walks with one out in the first, but escaped with a clutch inning-ending double play.

After the mishap, Backes settled in and glided through the fifth inning without any major trouble.

Though the Georgia Tech offense struggled early, so too did the Bulldogs — as their first seven hitters were retired in order.

Catcher Marisa Miller recorded Georgia’s first hit with a double in the third, but outfielder Dallis Goodnight’s infield lineout failed to drive Miller in.

The Bulldog bats finally picked up in the fourth. After cracking a double and a single to quickly acquire a pair of baserunners, outfielder Sarah Gordon slashed a triple to drive them in and put Georgia ahead 2-0.

A walk saw the fourth straight Bulldog reach base to set up a sacrifice bunt from shortstop Emily Digby that extended the lead by one.

Miller scored one more RBI on a groundout to pull the lead to 4-0. Digby attempted to score all the way from second following the groundout, but was thrown out at home to cap off a double play and snuff out the rally.

Despite a pitching change, Georgia kept its foot on the gas with a quick single from Goodnight.

Subsequently, infielder Tyler Ellison fired a base hit that resulted in a fielding error by the shortstop, letting Goodnight come home and firmly establishing a 5-0 lead.

After swatting through the Yellow Jackets’ lineup for five innings, Backes allowed a single and a walk to start the sixth.

First baseman Addison Leschber took advantage with an RBI single to put Georgia Tech on the board.

Although Backes responded with two swift outs, a full-count hit-by-pitch extended the inning before an infield single drove in a second run. Backes followed up with a flyout to limit the damage.

The Bulldogs were unable to gain insurance in the top of the seventh, with their fate resting on Backes to close out the win.

Her first pitch was chopped for a lead off single that placed the tying run in the on-deck circle.

Nevertheless, Backes sat down the next three in a row — two via strikeouts — to snatch the rivalry crown for Georgia.

Backes’ performance notched her team-leading thirteenth win and eighth complete game of the season.

She also tallied eight strikeouts, the most she has had in a game since March 28 against Alabama.

Georgia will be back on the road for its final series of the year at Missouri on Thursday, May 1. The opener is set to kick off at 7 p.m.