Feb. 21, 2014
THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech softball team (7-1) scored 11 runs on 14 hits with three home runs en route to an 11-2 victory in six innings against the Stony Brook Seawolves (0-2) Friday night at the GT-KSU Invite.
“I thought we had a great day at the plate,” head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “Hitting is contagious, and Ashley Thomas led us off and set the tone of the game. We went from there. I liked that we continued to hit throughout the game; it wasn’t just one inning it was throughout the entire game and throughout the entire lineup.”
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Senior Ashley Thomas was 4-for-5 with a pair of runs and a home run, while Courtney Ziese went 2-for-2 with two runs, two RBI, a home run and two walks. Maddie Lionberger scored three runs and Karly Fullem hit her third long ball of the season.
“Courtney Ziese was 2-for-2 with a home run.” Hoerner said. “She got on base and it’s about getting on base. If we can get on base we can make things happen. That’s important for a team win is just getting on base and making them make mistakes. If we’re putting the ball in play we can make things happen.”
The Jackets jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning, and tacked on a run in each of the third and fourth innings to take a 5-0 lead.
The Seawolves got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, but Tech pulled away again in the fifth on Ziese’s two-run homer followed by an RBI-single from Hayley Downs to take a 8-2 lead.
Fullem kicked off the top of the sixth with her single-shot to center, putting Tech within one run of the run-rule advantage, 9-2.
With Alysha Rudnik and Chelsie Thomas on third and second base, respectively, freshman Samantha Pierannunzi stepped to the plate to pinch hit in her first collegiate at bat.
She ripped a double to right center scoring both runners to push Tech over the edge and give the Jackets the final 11-2 lead.
“Sam Pierannunzi coming in with a pinch hit,” Hoerner said.” First at-bat of the year and it was a great double. That’s a tough situation. Any pinch hitter coming in, that’s a tough situation and she did a great job.”
Kylie Kleinschmidt (5-0) earned the win, scattering 11 hits with two walks, two runs and seven strikeouts in six innings.
Stony Brook’s Jane Sallen (0-1) suffered the loss with five runs on six hits and two walks in three innings pitched.
The Jackets take on No. 21/22 Tulsa in a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 12 p.m. at Mewborn Field.
