April 14, 2003
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
ATLANTA – First baseman Katie Donovan homered and drove in five runs, and pitcher Jessica Sallinger tied the school mark for career victories Wednesday, as the Georgia Tech softball team (31-16, 3-1 ACC) swept a doubleheader from Mississippi State (30-22, 10-13 SEC) at Glenn Field. The Jackets won the first game, 9-1 in five innings, and took the second, 5-3.
Donovan went 4-for-6 on the afternoon with five runs batted in, including a three-run homer in game one. She was one of three Jackets who homered, as Tech moves to 18-2 this season when it hits a home run. The Jackets, who combined for 17 hits on the day, are also 19-0 this season when scoring at least four runs.
Sallinger (17-10) earned the win the second game, after allowing three hits and no earned runs. She now has 45 career victories, tying Erin Ryan (1995-98) for the Tech all-time record. She went seven innings, striking out nine while walking just two. Sallinger also now has 54 career complete games to establish yet another school mark.
With the two wins, the Jackets have now won at least 30 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1995-96.
Donovan led Tech to the game one victory as she went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and four RBI in the contest. Her three-run home run down the left field line in the fourth extended the lead to 7-1 for the Jackets. Junior Tasha Waugh then ended the game in the fifth with a two-run shot to center, her third of the season. The homer pushed the margin to 9-1 and halted play due to the eight-run rule.
Tech matched Mississippi State, who entered Wednesday’s action with an SEC-best .318 team average, hit for hit in game one as both teams picked up nine safeties. In addition to Donovan’s 3-for-3 outing, both center fielder Sara Wissmann and catcher Lindsay Wood had two hits apiece and drove in a run.
Yellow Jacket starter Erin Voeltz improved to 11-4 with the game one win. She scattered nine hits over five innings and allowed one run, while striking out two. Bulldog starter Jennifer Nelson (6-6) took the loss after giving up three runs on six hits in three innings.
Nelson, left fielder Krystal Tillman and first baseman Kate Jaspers each had two hits in game one for MSU.
Tech’s momentum from the first win carried over into game two, as Donovan singled to left to plate second baseman Felicia Coursey, who led off the game with a single and stole second. The Jackets increased the margin to 4-0 in the second with three runs on five hits. Left fielder Kirin Kumar, Coursey and third baseman Tara Neff each had run-scoring hits in the frame. Coursey led Tech with two hits in the second game.
The Jackets added an insurance run in the fifth on a homer to left by junior shortstop Tara Knudsen. The shot was her team-best 10th of the season.
Mississippi State cut the lead to 5-3 in the sixth on a three-run home run to right center by center fielder Iyhia McMichael. She now has 18 homers on the season. Melissa Massey took the loss for the Bulldogs and falls to 19-9. She gave up four runs on seven hits in two innings.
Tech returns to action Thursday for a 3 p.m. doubleheader against North Carolina at Glenn Field, where Tech is now 10-1 on the season. Both games will be broadcast by WREK (91.1 FM).
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