Sara Mosley is simply one of the best players to ever set foot in UGA’s Jack Turner Stadium.
The Gilmer County native and University of Georgia slugger endured the demands and expectations of softball at its highest level, and she came away a better person for it.
Mosley hung up her spikes for UGA when the Bulldogs fell to UCLA in the NCAA Super Regionals May 24. She capped her playing days in Athens with a third straight selection to the All-SEC first team. She also earned second team All-Southeast region honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Mosley was granted a fifth year of eligibility because COVID cut the 2020 season short. By the conclusion of Georgia’s 2024 campaign, she played in the sixth most games (261) and started the fifth most (259) in school history.
“I wanted to play every game like it was my last and take in all the laughs,” Mosley said of her approach to her final season. “I wanted to make every moment count and have no regrets. I wanted to make sure I gave Georgia my all. I just wanted to take advantage of every opportunity I had, and with that comes pressure and expectations for myself.
“As a senior, wanting to do my job and get my job done, not fulfilling that was sometimes hard in the beginning. I think a lot of our team went through that, and we learned how we don’t have to get the job done every single time, and that someone else can do it. I think a lot of us seniors did that at the beginning. This year, we just wanted to take it all in and embrace what we’ve done and just have fun.”
In their normal fashion, the Bulldogs ripped through their early schedule, going 15-1. Georgia faced No. 6 Oklahoma State, No. 19 UCLA, No. 7 Florida State, No. 21 Virginia Tech and No. 8 Clemson before the Bulldogs made a West Coast trip where they battled against No. 20 California and No. 11 Stanford.
“This is the hardest schedule we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Mosley said. “It’s hard dealing with the mental side of it. Obviously, your talents are going to take over, but if you’re not in it mentally, then you’re never going to do it. We faced so many of the top pitchers in the country even before our SEC games.
“We went through all the strikeouts, ground outs and everything you can imagine. We messed up and that prepared us for later in the year, and it helped us grow. We’re normally not punched in the mouth at the beginning because our early schedule is usually a breeze. This year, it felt like we were punched in the mouth every time. It was good for the younger players to see how we handled it, and I think everyone grew this year.”
By the time UGA’s conference slate arrived, the punches kept coming. In seven of nine SEC series, UGA played teams ranked in the top-20 nationally. In the first round of the SEC tournament, Georgia won a 6-5, 14-inning marathon against Auburn in the Tigers’ home stadium. However, Florida eliminated the Bulldogs in the second round, 9-4.
Georgia finished 12-12 in conference play and hosted a NCAA Regional to begin the tournament. UGA disposed of UNC — Wilmington (8-0) but lost to Liberty (7-3). Georgia then downed Charlotte (5-0) to setup a rematch versus Liberty.
UGA needed two wins to keep playing, and the Bulldogs doused the Flames’ season with wins of 14-5 and 3-1. In game one, Mosley recorded two hits, which included a solo home run in the seventh inning.
“I love being doubted, and I love when people doubted us,” Mosley said. “You find out a lot about yourself when your back is against the wall. That’s when we played our best. We found something in ourselves and didn’t want to be done. Regionals were probably the first time all season we all were having fun.”
UCLA hosted the impending Super Regional, and UGA lost to the No. 6 ranked Bruins 8-0 and 6-1.
Georgia posted a 43-19 overall record on the season. Mosley’s 20 home runs brought her career total to 65. She ranks only behind Alyssa DiCarlo, who hit 68 home runs for UGA. Mosley finished her senior season with a .325 batting average, 66 hits, 45 runs, 64 RBIs, and a .660 slugging percentage.
“I’m just thankful that I was able to play at Georgia for five years, and that the Lord gave me that opportunity,” Mosley said. “He gave me the talent to succeed and accomplish all the things I dreamed of doing. I’m proud to be from Ellijay and someone who ‘Played for the G.’ This season was so hard, but I grew from it, and we all grew from it.
“Mentally, I feel like I’m a more strong and confident woman from this season. That’s one thing about playing for coach Tony Baldwin. He’s all about making strong, confident women, and that’s way more important than how far you can hit a softball.”
Growing off the field allowed Mosley to thrive on it. Her journey began with the COVID season of 2020. As a sophomore, she became someone who detested the game, but she continued to press forward. She went on to be a two-time All-American and a three-time selection to both the All-SEC first team and All-Southeast region second team.
“If you’re not strong mentally, you’re probably not going to make it,” she said. “I’ve learned so much about myself and found out who I am as a person. I know who I am. I’m proud of who I am. I wouldn’t be where I’m today without going through all that, and the Lord brought me through that. I went through a lot my freshman and sophomore years. I didn’t want to play anymore. I didn’t want to be there. I’m proud of where I’ve come from. I’m just proud of my growth mentally with softball and life.”
Mosley can be found throughout UGA’s softball record book as one of the best hitters to ever don the red and black. In addition to 65 home runs, Mosley racked up 113 extra base hits, which ranks third all time at Georgia.
She drove in 227 runs for the Bulldogs, which is fourth in school history. Mosley is sixth all time in runs scored (193) and seventh in both slugging percentage (.652) and doubles (47).
Mosley’s 20 home runs this past season is sixth most in UGA history, and her .419 batting average in 2022 is ninth. She is the only player in school history to record five hits in a game, which she accomplished versus LSU in 2021.
When asked about her standing as one of the greatest softball payers at UGA, Mosley said she thinks of herself as “Just another girl who played at Georgia and loved it.”
“It’s surreal,” she said. “It’s more surreal that I’ve done it in the past three years than in my first two. My freshman year got cut off, and I was going through everything my sophomore year and didn’t do jack squat. It doesn’t seem real. Looking back and knowing I succeeded at my dream school, it’s unreal. I’m just so thankful and blessed to have the talent to be able to do something like that.
“I’m so proud of my teammates and proud of myself. Through the hard times, the good times, the bad and the ugly, we stuck beside each other and knew we would get something done. I’m forever in debt to the Lord and the University of Georgia. I love this school, and I love this game. It’s hard to believe its over. Those were the best years of my life, and now it’s on to something better.”
Mosley still has softball plans in her immediate future. She has signed on to play professionally with the Chattanooga Steam, where she will suit up alongside two UGA teammates. The Steam’s season starts June 19 and wraps up July 29, and it will bring Mosley back to her softball roots.
After the season, she plans to follow the path God has illuminated for her.
“I wanted to be close to my family and go home whenever I wanted to. I wanted them to be able to come to games whenever they wanted to,” Mosley said of her decision to play for the Steam. “I grew up playing in the stadium they play out of. It will be a full-circle moment for me to play right where I grew up. They were the first team who reached out to me before a few others. You never know where the opportunities will lead to next year.
“After the season, I’m going to do lessons and camps. It’s just really exciting. I’ve always said I want to be a wife and a momma, but you’ve got to get the job part figured out. I’ve never known what I’ve wanted to be. This year, my life has been laid out in front of me, and I’ve prayed for clarity on things. The opportunities I have and will have are pretty awesome.”