SUNNYVALE, CALIF. (March 11) – In bracket play at the National Invitational Softball Tournament, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets dropped their first game of the day to Central Michigan (6-4) by the score of 2-3.
Central Michigan jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the third as the Yellow Jackets committed two costly errors, and Central Michigan picked up a key from Kim Burke, which drove in Amy Morrison and allowed Becky Manson to score on a throwing error by Anne Knobbe.
In the top of the sixth, Central Michigan added to their lead and scored a run on a hit by Kim Burke and a throwing error by the left fielder, Heather Sumrow. But, the Yellow Jackets would make a game of it in their last at bat as they scored two runs as Abby Bickford connected on a single to drive in Ellen Styer and and Jamie Frost hit a single to drive in Kori Jacobson.
Tiffany Goodman picked up the loss for the Yellow Jackets as she gave up nine hits, two walk and three runs. She fell to 5-7 on the season.
Because of the loss, the Yellow Jackets advanced to the Consolation Bracket of the tournament and defeated Santa Clara (2-13) by the score of 4-0.
Georgia Tech (12-14) led early in the game as they scored one run in the bottom of the first. In that inning, Lauren Schwartz walked and then advanced to second as Ellen Styer bunted the ball for a sacrifice. Anne Knobbe then laced a single to drive in Schwartz. The Yellow Jackets would strike again in the bottom of the third as Ellen Styer doubled, Knobbe hit a single, followed by a sacrifice RBI by Kori Jacobson.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Georgia Tech would score their final runs of the game Jamie Frost connected for a single and then advanced to second on a sacrifice from pitcher Jamie Smith. Heather Sumrow reached base on an error by the catcher and Frost advanced to third. Schwartz then singled to drove in Frost followed by another single from Styer, who drove in Sumrow.
For the afternoon, Styer went 2 for 2 with an RBI and Knobbe went 2-3 with an RBI. Smith picked up the win in the game and improved to 7-7 on the season. She pitched seven innings, allowing only three hits and no runs.
The Yellow Jackets faced the winner of the Wisconsin-Utah State game at 10 p.m. EST Saturday.
