April 27, 2013
THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech softball team (22-29, 7-10 ACC) fell in back-to-back games against No. 22 Florida State (39-15, 18-2 ACC) on Saturday afternoon at Mewborn Field. The Yellow Jackets fell in extras, 4-1, in game one, before dropping a six-inning 8-0 contest in game two.
The Yellow Jackets return for the series finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday that will be broadcast live on ESPN3 with Melissa Lee and Roddy Jones on the call.
Game one – No. 22 Florida State 4, Georgia Tech 1
Georgia Tech senior Hope Rush and Florida State sophomore Lacey Waldrop dueled for seven scoreless innings before the Seminoles struck first in the top of the eighth.
Seminoles centerfielder Morgan Bullock singled on a chopper over Yellow Jackets first baseman Karly Fullem to score the first two runs of the game. Later in the inning, Florida State sophomore Bailey Schinella drove in a pair of runs on a single up the middle just out of the reach of a lunging Chelsie Thomas.
Georgia Tech threatened in the bottom of the eighth inning when Chelsie Thomas led off with a walk. Junior Ashley Thomas grounded out before classmate Hayley Downs singled on a high chopper to the second baseman. Chelsie Thomas advanced to third on the play and Downs stole second on the next pitch to give the Yellow Jackets runners on second and third with one out.
Junior Alysha Rudnik stepped in and launched a high fly ball to the left-center field gap that was run down by Bullock from centerfield. The sacrifice fly put Georgia Tech on the scoreboard, trailing by three runs with a runner on third and two outs. A line out by Rush ended the game.
Rush (12-14) finished the game with eight innings pitched, two strikeouts and four earned runs to take the loss. Waldrop (20-7) threw eight innings, allowed four hits and struck out five to earn her 20th victory of the season.
Game two – No. 22 Florida State 8, Georgia Tech 0
Florida State got on the scoreboard first after it plated two runs in the top of the second inning. Junior Kelly Hensley began the inning with a single up the middle and was forced out at second on Bullock’s fielder’s choice in the next at bat. FSU senior Kirstin Austin singled on a chopper that was knocked down by Georgia Tech shortstop Ashley Thomas.
Schinella stepped in and singled up the middle, scoring Bullock and advancing Austin to third after the ball skipped off the glove of Yellow Jackets centerfielder Hayley Downs. After taking the one-run lead, junior Celeste Gomez hit a long fly ball to the warning track in center field for a sacrifice fly to score Austin.
With FSU up 2-0 in the fourth, Gomez stepped up with two outs and blasted her ninth home run of the season off of the left field scoreboard to give Florida State a 3-0 lead. The Seminoles tacked on four more runs on a grand slam hit to center by Austin in the top of the fifth inning. Senas added another run in the top of the sixth inning with a solo shot just over the centerfield wall.
Seminoles starting pitcher Monica Perry improved her record this year to 18-8 by tossing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and allowing just two hits. Georgia Tech sophomore Kylie Kleinschmidt (5-7) took the loss after allowing seven earned on 11 hits and striking out three in six innings pitched.
