April 4, 2015
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Georgia Tech softball team (14-25) upset No. 22 Texas A&M (29-10), 5-4, in eight innings in game one, before falling 11-0 in five innings in game two Saturday at the Aggie Softball Complex.
“It was a great win for our program,” head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “We definitely didn’t take the easy way, but we competed and fought until the end. Being put in pressure situations and coming out successful is great for our team’s confidence. I’m proud of Christina Biggerstaff to have worked through some tough situations. She pitched a great game.”
The Jackets are back in action Wednesday at No. 8/9 Georgia. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. on the SEC Network + with Pam Ward and Michele Smith on the call.
Game 1: Georgia Tech 5, Texas A&M 4 (8)
The Jackets drew first blood in the top of the third as Maddie Lionberger led off the inning with a hit up the middle, moved to second on a passed ball and made it to third on a groundout by Samantha Pierannunzi. Katie Johnsky drew a walk and Courtney Ziese was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs.
Karly Fullem stepped into the box and blasted her fifth home run of the year for a grand slam to give Tech a 4-0 lead. It marked Tech’s third grand slam on the season with the others hit by Kelsey Chisholm and Ziese.
The Aggies cut that lead in half in the bottom of the same frame thanks to a two-run home run by Tori Vidales.
In the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded and two outs, April Ryan lined a two-RBI single up the middle to knot it 4-4 and force extras.
In the top of the eighth, Ziese reached on a fielder’s choice and Fullem reached on an Aggie error. With two outs, Chisholm hit an RBI single to left that scored pinch runner Draven Sonnon from second, giving Tech a 5-4 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Aggies loaded the bases with two outs. Chisholm scooped up Ashley Walters’ grounder at short and made the out at second to end the inning and preserve the win.
Christina Biggerstaff (6-4) earned the win and struck out a season-high 14 batters in 8.0 innings. Texas A&M’s Rachel Fox (15-7) entered the game to pitch the eighth inning and was pinned with the loss after letting the winning run score.
Game 2: Texas A&M 11, Georgia Tech 0 (5)
The Aggies capitalized early and scored six runs in the first inning. Texas A&M added a seventh run in the third and tacked on four runs in the fifth inning to take an 11-0 lead.
Emily Anderson (3-5) suffered the loss after allowing six runs in the first inning. Fox (16-7) earned the win allowing two hits through five innings.
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