March 7, 2003
Oregon Box Score
UMKC Box Score
SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Junior Erin Voeltz had a career-high 10 strikeouts, and sophomore first baseman Katie Donovan hit her second home run of the season to lead the Georgia Tech softball team (13-9) to a 3-0 win over Missouri-Kansas City Friday in the National Invitational Softball Tournament at the Twin Lakes Sports Complex. The Jackets lost 2-1 to 23rd-ranked Oregon to open the tourney.
Voeltz (6-2) was strong from the start and did not allow a hit until the top of the fifth after giving up a first inning double to UMKC’s Kristen Caldwell. She went seven innings, allowing just three hits and two walks. Voeltz now has three shutouts this season and has tossed seven complete games.
Offensively, Tech quickly put the loss to Oregon behind them against UMKC, as Donovan’s two-run homer gave the Jackets a 3-0 lead after one. Second baseman Felicia Coursey led off the game with a triple to right center but was thrown out at home as left fielder Kirin Kumar grounded to second. Kumar then scored the game’s first run when she came home on a double to left center off the fence by shortstop Tara Knudsen. Donovan then homered to right center, giving Tech the 3-0 advantage and Kangaroo starter Jenny Schade from the game. The three-run cushion was more than enough for Voeltz.
Schade took the loss for the Kangaroos after allowing three earned runs in 0.2 innings. Lindsey Davis entered in relief and kept the Jackets off the scoreboard for the rest of the game.
Kumar, who had three hits on the day, went 2-for-3 with a run scored to lead Tech at the plate against UMKC.
In the day’s first game, Tech kept Oregon off the scoreboard until the fifth, but was unable to build a sizeable lead. The Ducks threatened in the bottom of the second, loading the bases with just one out. However, Tech starter Jessica Sallinger got the next two batters to pop out and escaped the frame with out allowing a run. The Ducks squandered chances for big innings in each of their first three times at bat, as they left seven runners on base over this stretch.
Kumar put Tech up 1-0 in the top of the third with a run-scoring single up the middle. The safety scored Coursey from second. Coursey got the two-out rally started when she reached on an error by the Oregon shortstop and swiped second.
Oregon finally scratched in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI single from designated player Andrea Vidlund that knotted the score at one. The Ducks added a run in the sixth to take a 2-1 advantage. A pinch-hit single from Ashley Richards proved to be the game winner, as Tech stranded Donovan at second in the top of the seventh to end the game.
Kumar’s hit was Tech’s only safety against Duck starter Amy Harris, who fanned 11 in seven innings to earn her fifth win of the season. Sallinger (6-6) took the loss and allowed two earned runs on five hits and six walks in six innings. She struck out six.
Tech returns to action in the NIST Saturday at noon in bracket play. The Jackets’ opponent will be determined Friday night.
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