March 18, 2003
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
ATLANTA – Senior second baseman Felicia Coursey’s solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning gave the Georgia Tech softball team (19-12) a 3-2 victory over Arkansas (15-16) in game one of a doubleheader Tuesday at Glenn Field. The Lady Razorbacks rebounded in the second game to claim a 3-2 win.
Coursey’s game one walk-off shot to left field, which broke a 2-2 tie, was her first home run of the season and gave Tech its sixth consecutive victory.
The Jackets appeared to be cruising to a shutout win as starter Erin Voeltz kept the Lady Razorbacks off the scoreboard and limited them to just four hits through the game’s first six innings. But in the seventh, Voeltz allowed a single to Arkansas second baseman Blaire Woodward followed by a two-run home run to designated player Ruth Atkins, which knotted the score at two. Sophomore ace Jessica Sallinger then relieved Voeltz and got out of the frame without any further damage.
With one out in the bottom half of the inning, Coursey then homered off Arkansas starter Valanna Lyons to end the game in dramatic fashion. Lyons fell to 7-8 with the loss. She allowed three runs on four hits and three walks in 6.1 innings.
Sallinger (11-8) picked up the win with just 0.2 innings of work. Voeltz, who pitched well through six, allowed two runs on six hits and two walks in 6.1 innings.
Tech scratched first in game one as a single to left by catcher Lindsay Wood scored Tara Neff from second. Wood also gave Tech an important insurance run with a solo homer to center to lead off the sixth. The shot was her fourth of the season, which ranks second on the team. After going 2-for-3 with a run scored and two runs batted in. She now has a team-best 17 RBI. Coursey was 2-for-4 in the first game.
In game two, the Lady Razorbacks took advantage of a pair of home runs to pick up the 3-2 win. Arkansas took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second off a homer by shortstop Ashley Carter down the left field line. The Lady ‘Backs added a third run in the top of the fourth on a solo shot by first baseman Kim Eiben, which increased the lead to 3-0. Arkansas scored each of its five runs on the day via the long ball. There were five combined homers on the afternoon.
Tech got back in the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Center fielder Soraya Reddick led off the inning with a single and later scored on a throwing error by Arkansas pitcher Heather Schlichtman. Neff, who reached on a fielder’s choice when Schlichtman’s throw to second in attempt to retire Reddick sailed into center field, advanced to third on the miscue. She later came home when left fielder Kirin Kumar reached first on a bunt single toward third base, cutting the lead to 3-2.
But Schlichtman (5-6) would not allow the Jackets to tie the game, as she set Tech down in order in the sixth and seventh. She allowed no earned runs on four hits and three walks in seven innings. She equaled a season-best with 10 strikeouts.
Sallinger, who allowed just three hits, took the loss. She gave up three runs in seven innings, while striking out nine. Sallinger did not walk a batter for her second consecutive start. She suffered her first loss in six decisions.
The loss was the Jackets first at home this season, dropping Tech’s Glenn Field mark to 6-1 in 2003.
Tech returns to action Friday as the Jackets host the 11th annual Buzz Classic at Marietta’s Al Bishop Softball Complex. Tech opens the tourney against Maryland (2 p.m.) and Lipscomb (5 p.m.) Friday before concluding pool play Saturday versus Troy State (Noon) and Radford (2 p.m.).
-GT-
