March 24, 2015
PANTHERSVILLE, Ga. – Down 7-2 in the top of the seventh, the Georgia Tech (11-20) softball team scored four runs on four hits, including two home runs to mount a rally, but the Jackets fell 7-6 to Georgia State (22-7) on Tuesday.
“I liked our demeanor, seeing as we never gave up,” head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “Katie Johnsky, Kelsey Chisholm and Courtney Ziese had a good day at the plate for us.
“We have to continue to make adjustments a little quicker in the game. We will continue to work hard to get better for our program.”
Katie Johnsky went 2-for-3 with a double, triple and three RBI, and Jessica Kowalewicz was 1-for-3 with two runs. Courtney Ziese was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a home run, while teammate Kelsey Chisholm hit a home run and drew two walks.
Starting pitchers Kylie Kleinschmidt and Katie Worley took a pitcher’s duel into the fifth inning with just three hits allowed total.
In the top of the fifth, Samantha Pierannunzi reached on a fielder’s choice and Kowalewicz drew a two-out walk. Johnsky stepped to the plate and her double bounced off the top of the fence in dead center field and back into play, allowing both runners to score giving the Jackets a 2-0 lead.
The Panthers countered with seven runs on six hits in the bottom of the same inning capped off by Lauren Coleman’s three-run home run to gain the lead 7-2.
Kelsey Chisholm rocked a leadoff shot over the leftfield fence for her third home run of the season in the top of the seventh to spark a rally. Kowalewicz singled with two outs and Johnsky’s triple to center brought in Kowalewicz to make it 7-4.
Courtney Ziese followed with a two-run shot to left for her team-leading seventh round-tripper on the year and made it a one-run game, 7-6, inducing a Georgia State pitching change as Taylor Thorpe relieved Worley. Thorpe retired the third out and earned her second save of the season.
Kleinschmidt (3-13) suffered the loss, surrendering four runs on six hits in 4.1 innings. Christina Biggerstaff took over in the fifth and gave up three runs on two hits in 1.2 innings pitched.
Worley (7-3) earned the win, going 6.2 innings with six runs on six hits.
Georgia Tech has a quick turn around and is back in action Wednesday at No. 5 Alabama. The Jackets and Crimson Tide square off at 3 p.m. ET on the SEC Network +.
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Twitter (@GaTechSoftball), Instagram (@GaTechSoftball), Facebook (Georgia Tech Softball) or by visiting www.ramblinwreck.com.
