March 5, 2016
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Georgia Tech softball team (5-10, 1-1 ACC) split a doubleheader at Louisville (12-6, 1-1) on the opening day of ACC play. The Yellow Jackets fell in game one, 12-3 (5), before defeating the Cardinals 5-2 in game two.
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“We had a game plan going in offensively and I believe we stuck to it in both games,” head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “After that first game we had to make adjustments mentally. The team never gave up and continued to fight in the second game after going down 2-0. We made things happen all through the lineup and I think that was the key.
“I thought Emily [Anderson] did a great job. You can’t dwell on the previous game and she came back out with a different pitching plan for the same hitters, and threw a great game and stayed composed. I thought defensively we did a great job and I think overall we put everything together in that second game. I’m proud of the team.”
How It Happened
Game 1: Louisville 12, Georgia Tech 3 (5)
Georgia Tech got on the board first in the opening stanza 1-0 thanks to Samantha Pierannunzi’s team leading 12th hit and Draven Sonnon’s second double of the season brought in Pierannunzi.
The Cardinals got that run back and more in the bottom of the same frame thanks to a two-run home run by Marissa Becker to make it 2-1.
In the top of the second, Jessica Kowalewicz was hit by a pitch to start the inning and she moved to second on a ground out by Sydney Stavro. Katie Krzus stepped to the plate and roped her first collegiate hit for an RBI-double to left center, scoring Kowalewicz to bring the Jackets within one, 3-2.
Louisville tacked on six runs in the second to take a 9-2 lead. Kelsey Chisholm led off the third inning with the third double of the game for Georgia Tech and scored on a Louisville miscue to make it 9-3.
The Cards won the game on a three-run home run by Becker, 12-3. Emily Anderson (3-6) suffered the loss, while Becker (4-4) picked up the win.
Game 2: Georgia Tech 5, Louisville 2
Louisville plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to take a quick 2-0 lead.
In the top of the sixth, Pierannunzi hit a leadoff single and moved to second on Chisholm’s ACC-leading fifth sacrifice bunt. Pierannunzi took off for third after a fly ball to center off the bat of Sonnon, and scored on a Louisville error on a grounder from Courtney Ziese to trim Louisville’s lead to one, 2-1.
Jessica Kowalewicz followed Ziese with a single, and Jordan Deep’s pinch-hit RBI double brought in Ziese to tie the game at two.
In the top of the seventh, Darragh smacked a leadoff single and Lionberger followed with a triple to right center bringing in Darragh to give the Jackets a 3-2 lead. Pierannunzi’s sacrifice fly to the fence in left brought in Lionberger and gave the Jackets a 4-2 advantage.
Kowalewicz kept the two-rally alive with a single to center to bring in Chisholm from second, giving Georgia Tech a three-run lead, 5-2.
Louisville had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but the Jackets completed their sixth double play of the season to escape the jam and win the game.
Anderson (4-6) earned the win going the distance and allowed two runs on five hits, while Megan Hensley (8-2) suffered the loss after surrendering four runs on seven hits in six innings pitched.
Quick hits
– The second game marks Georgia Tech’s first win in the series against the Cardinals
– The Yellow Jacket out-hit Louisville 9-5 in game two
– Jordan Deep had a clutch pinch-hit double to tie game two at 2-2; Sonnon also hit a double in game two
– Maddie Lionberger went 2-for-3 with a run, a triple and RBI in game two
– Jessica Kowalewicz went 2-for-4 with an RBI in game two
– Five different Yellow Jackets crossed the plate for Tech in game two
– Georgia Tech hit three doubles in game one by Draven Sonnon, Kelsey Chisholm and Katie Krzus
– Chisholm went 2-for-3 with a run in the game one, while Samantha Pierannunzi added a hit and a run
– Georgia Tech leads the league with 4 triples
Up Next
Georgia Tech and Louisville wrap up the three game series on Sunday at 12 p.m.
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