Feb. 25, 2005
COLUMBUS, Ga. – No. 13 Georgia Tech had its 13-game winning streak snapped as it lost two games on the first day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Tech was edged in the first game against No. 8 Michigan, 4-1, before falling to Southern Illinois, 5-1.
Georgia Tech dropped its first game of the year to No. 8 Michigan. The Wolverines used two homeruns to push past the Jackets, 4-1. Jessica Sallinger took the loss for the Jackets, giving up four runs, one earned run, on just four hits. The Kennesaw, Ga. native struck out eight while walking four.
Michigan’s Samantha Findlay broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the third inning with a 3-run homer to put the Wolverines up 4-1. Michigan put a runner on base after a throwing error by third baseman Katie Donovan. A groundout advanced the runner. Then Jessica Sallinger struck the next batter out and then intintially walked Michigan’s Jessica Merchant. With a 1-2 count, Findlay hit a homer to right center field to give Michigan the lead.
In the first inning, Merchant hit a solo homerun to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets answered in the top of the second inning as Katie Donovan scored on an Aileen Morales RBI single.
In the second game of the afternoon, the Jackets were once again plagued by the long ball. Georgia Tech pitching gave up four home runs, which accounted for all five of the Salukis’ runs. Freshman Whitney Humphreys took the loss for the Yellow Jackets as Tech fell to 13-2 on the season.
The Yellow Jackets scratched the scoreboard first, scoring on an RBI single by Morales. Stephanie Butler reached on a throwing error, which advanced her to second and she scored on Morales’ single.
Southern Illinois started the fourth inning with a walk and then benefited from back-to-back homeruns. Maria Damico hit a two run homer left center field, which was followed by Katie Jordan’s homer.
In the fifth inning, Tech brought in Sarah Wood to pitch. Wood’s first pitch was driven to right field for a homerun by SIU. On the first pitch of the sixth inning, Damico hit her second homer of the game, giving the Salukis a 5-1 lead.
Georgia Tech will return to action on Saturday as it opens the second day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic at 10 a.m. against South Carolina.
