May 8, 2004
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The 22nd-ranked Yellow Jackets committed six errors in the opener and Mississippi State’s Kelli Miller (10-8) fired a one-hit shutout in the nightcap to lead MSU over Tech, 10-2 (6) and 1-0, at MSU Softball Field on Saturday afternoon. Senior Erin Voeltz (15-8) tossed a gem for the Yellow Jackets, scattering five hits and allowing one unearned run in the loss.
In game one, Despite no hits in the second inning, the Bulldogs were able to take advantage of a walk and a hit-by-pitch, scoring a run on a sacrifice fly by Hayle Guess after a successful double steal.
Freshman first baseman Sarah Wood led off the third inning with her first collegiate double in the right center gap. Wood was then caught in a run down after a ground ball and tagged out at third base. Junior third baseman then singled off the pitcher to put runners on first and second with one out. The Jackets were unable to capitalize and the Bulldogs escaped with no damage, holding on to a one-run lead.
MSU pushed its lead to two runs in the third inning on a throwing error by Tech. Iyhia McMichael led off with a walk and stole second base. McMichael advanced to third base on a sacrifice and scored on an error by the Jackets.
The Bulldogs busted the game open in the fourth inning with four unearned runs to take a commanding 6-0 lead. With two outs, Tech committed an error and then surrendered four consecutive base hits, two via the bunt and one bloop single that barely cleared Tech’s Katie Donovan’s glove.
Senior Tasha Waugh broke through for Tech with a two-run home run in the fifth inning after Donovan singled to bring the Rambling Wreck within four, 6-2.
MSU answered in the bottom of the sixth inning with four runs, two unearned, to defeat Tech 10-2 in six innings. Tech allowed more than five runs for the first time this season. Junior Jessica Sallinger (26-7) dropped a decision for the first time in six games, allowing 10 hits, 10 runs, four earned runs and struck out just one.
Tech scored two runs, on four hits and committed a season-high six errors, while MSU scored 10 runs, on 10 hits and had one error.
In game two, Mississippi State threatened first in the bottom of the second inning with three straight hits but were unable to score as senior left fielder Sara Wissmann threw the base runner out at home plate to keep the game scoreless.
The Bulldogs broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth inning on an unearned run. McMichael reached base on a Yellow Jacket error and stole second and third, eventually scoring on a sacrifice fly Kate Jaspers as Tech trailed 1-0.
Tech’s Soraya Reddick broke up MSU’s Kelli Miller’s perfect game in the seventh inning with a leadoff base hit to center field. Donovan then reached base on an error as the Yellow Jackets put runners at first and second with no outs. After a fly out, the Bulldogs turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the game as Tech fell 1-0.
Tech had no runs, on one hit and committed one error, while MSU scored one run, on five hits and had no errors.
Georgia Tech will travel to Tallahassee, Fla., for the ACC Tournament, May 14-16. The Yellow Jackets will be the No. 4 seed and face No. 5 NC State at 11 a.m. on Thursday morning. Live stats will be provided for all the games at the conference championship.
