Georgia Tech Hosts Maryland In Three-Game Set

April 12, 2013

THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech softball team (18-22; 5-4 ACC) hosts Maryland (21-21; 5-4 ACC) in a three-game series this weekend. The two teams are tied for third place in the ACC and Georgia Tech has won 20 straight contests against the Terps.

The Yellow Jackets put their impressive series streak on the line Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The series finale is set for Sunday also at 1 p.m. Tech is 36-16 all-time against Maryland and head coach Sharon Perkins is a perfect 17-0 against the Terps in her six seasons at the helm of Tech’s program.

Both teams have struggled in the circle as of late and both rank in the bottom of the ACC pitching categories. Maryland and Georgia Tech rank 7th and 8th in the conference, respectively, in hits allowed, runs, walks and doubles.

It will be up to the teams’ offenses to take advantage of the pitching situation and produce runs to come out on top this weekend.  Georgia Tech’s Ashley Thomas leads the league with a .423 batting average and 55 hits. As a team, Tech has the third-best batting average (.289) and second-highest on-base percentage (.386) in the ACC.

Hope Rush is 10-11 in the circle for the Jackets with a 3.73 ERA, and has pitched more innings this season (127.2) than the additional three pitchers on staff combined.

Maryland is led by Sara Acosta’s .339 batting average and 40 hits. Collectively, the Terps own the fifth-highest batting average in the ACC (.270) and their 213 RBI are the second-most in the league.

Maddie Martin and Kaitlyn Schmeiser have split most of the work in the circle for the Terps.  Martin owns a 3.85 ERA and an 8-10 overall record in 107.1 innings pitched, while Schmeiser is 8-10 in the circle with a 3.94 ERA in 108.1 innings of work.