Feb. 10, 2008
PANTHERSVILLE, Ga. – Brittany Barnes hit the game-winning solo home run in the top of the seventh inning as the No. 17/18 Georgia Tech Softball Team (2-2) defeated Lipscomb, 2-1, this afternoon in the consolation finals of the Georgia State First Pitch Classic. Freshman Stephanie Morris (1-0) picked up her first collegiate win as she allowed one run on five hits and a walk while striking out five.
Like Tech’s first game of the day against Tennessee-Martin, this one was shaping up to be a pitcher’s duel early on. Lipscomb pitcher Kim Jacobson faced the minimum number of Jackets in the first three innings. She allowed a single to Brittany Barnes, but Barnes was erased trying to stretch it into a double. Meanwhile, Tech freshman Stephanie Morris cruised through the first two innings, but Lipscomb broke through with some small ball in the third.
A bloop double down the left-field line and a bunt single gave Lipscomb runners at the corners with nobody out. After a ground out moved the runner to second base, Christen Campbell laid down a successful suicide squeeze to put the Lady Bisons on top 1-0. It could have been much worse for Tech, but Morris got Abby Keese to hit into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double-play.
In the top of the fourth, the Jackets had the makings of a big inning, but Jacobson was able to minimize the damage. Tech did manage, however, to tie the game. Christy Jones got it going by reaching on a one-out error and then stole second base. After Morales walked, Savannah Brown roped a double into the left-centerfield gap tying the game and giving Tech runners at second and third with just one out. Jacobson got Weaver to strike out on a 3-2 rise ball and then got Barnes on a line out to second base.
Both pitchers settled down afterwards and the game quickly moved to the seventh inning still tied at one. Brittany Barnes took care of that when she launched a one-out solo home run over the fence in left field giving the Jackets a 2-1 lead. It was her first home run of the season and 21st of her career moving her into a fifth-place tie on Tech’s all-time charts with Caitlin Lever.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Morris worked around a leadoff single to preserve her first career win. She scattered five hits while walking one and fanning five.
Georgia Tech will head to Tuscaloosa for an 8:00 PM EST game Thursday night against No. 4/4 Alabama. The Jackets will then remain in Alabama for the Hampton Inn Crimson Classic Feb. 15-17. They will play New Mexico, Middle Tennessee State and Alabama in pool play and then another two games in the championship round. Live stats will be available at www.ramblinwreck.com via the Gametracker link.
