Feb. 14, 2015
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Georgia Tech softball team (2-6) blasted two home runs and scored 10 runs on 14 hits en route to a 10-2 run-rule victory against No. 20 Nebraska (4-4) Saturday at the FSU Unconquered Invite. It’s the second run-rule win against the Huskers in as many days at the Yellow Jackets out-scored Nebraska 21-4 through 10 innings and two games. The Jackets are back in action in Tallahassee, Fla. this afternoon against Western Kentucky University at 3 p.m.
“Our hitters did a great job of making adjustments pitch to pitch and executed in key situations,” head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “Kylie Kleinschmidt pitched a great game and when you put those two parts of the game together you are successful. I’m proud of the teams mentality overall.”
Of the Jackets 14 hits, two were home runs, one by Courtney Ziese and the other from Jessica Kowalewicz, and Katie Johnsky went 3-for-3 with two runs. The Jackets received major production from the bottom of the order as the six-, seven-, eight-, and nine-hole batters each scored a pair of runs.
The Jackets opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the second stanza thanks to a bases-clearing double cranked to deep left field by Samantha Pierannunzi. Ziese reached on a fielder’s choice, and with two outs Draven Sonnon and Kelsey Chisholm hit singles through the infield to set up the situation for Pierannunzi.
In the top of the third with one out, Johnsky singled and Ziese roped her second home run of the season over the right field wall to give Tech a 5-0 advantage.
The Jackets kept the inning going with a walk by Kowalewicz and a single up the left line off the bat of Sonnon. Chisholm rocked a triple off the right field wall to score both runners, and Morgan Taylor’s pinch hit single plated Chisholm to give the Jackets an 8-0 lead.
The Jackets weren’t done yet. Tech added two more runs, 10-0, in the fourth inning as Johnsky hit her third single of the game and Kowalewicz went yard over the left field wall for her first round-tripper of the season.
The Huskers finally broke through on a two-run bomb from Kiki Stokes in the bottom of the fourth.
The Jackets’ defense held strong against the Huskers as Tech defused two bases-loaded, no-out situations in both the first and second innings.
Kylie Kleinschmidt (1-4) pitched all five innings, allowing just two runs on four hits and four punchouts.
Emily Lockman (1-3) was pinned with the loss, throwing the first 2.1 innings with eight runs on 10 hits.
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