April 6, 2013
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Georgia Tech softball team (17-21, 4-4 ACC) dropped both games Friday at Virginia Tech (23-8, 3-4) by scores of 7-2 and 10-2 (5) at Tech Softball Park. The series finale is slated for Sunday at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on the ACC Digital Network on YouTube with Mike Hogewood and Barbara Jordan on the call.
Game 1 – Virginia Tech 7, Georgia Tech 2
Virginia Tech got on the board first in the second frame as Amanda Ake reached on a single, stole second and moved to third on an error on the throw down. Ake scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Dani Anderson.
Georgia Tech tied the score at one in the top of the third when Alysha Rudnik and Hope Rush walked with two outs, and Morgan Taylor singled to load the bases. Kate Johnsky stepped to the plate and ran the count full, before ripping an RBI-single through the left side to score Rudnik.
The Hokies regained the lead in the bottom of the frame. Leadoff batter Lauren Gaskill reached on an error by Rudnik and advanced to second. Kylie McGoldrick laced one up the middle to score Gaskill.
Virginia Tech pulled away with three additional runs in the fourth and two more in the sixth.
Trailing 7-1, Tech tacked on a run in the seventh as Ashley Thomas smoked her fourth triple on the season and crossed the plate on an RBI-single courtesy of Rush.
Rush (9-11) pitched five innings in the loss, giving up seven runs, three of them earned, on seven hits with three walks.
Jasmin Harrell (10-4) picked up the victory as she allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out eight batters.
Game 2 – Virginia Tech 10, Georgia Tech 2
The Hokies jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the opening stanza off a grand slam by Ake. Virginia Tech pushed another run across in the third as McGoldrick doubled and moved to third on a passed ball. A sacrifice fly by Courtney Liddle scored McGoldrick.
Virginia Tech exploded for five runs in the fourth to take a 10-0 lead. With the bases loaded and no outs, BKaye Smith singled to score two runs and another crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly from McGoldrick. Liddle smacked an RBI-double and Logan Spaw singled to score Liddle.
Tech avoided the shutout and added two runs in the top of the fifth. Courtney Ziese roped her fifth home run on the season over the right-field wall. Chelsie Thomas followed as she slapped her way on to first and stole second.
Hayley Downs and Ashley Thomas laced together singles, the second of which scored Chelsie Thomas, but it wasn’t enough.
Karly Fullem (3-3) endured the loss, pitching one inning with four runs on two hits.
Kelly Heinz (11-3) tossed five innings in the win with two runs on six hits.
