Feb. 8, 2004
MONROE, La. – The Georgia Tech softball team upset No. 9 Louisiana-Lafayette, 4-1, this afternoon behind another solid pitching performance from junior Jessica Sallinger (Kennesaw, Ga.) at the Mardi Gras Classic. Sallinger (2-0) threw a complete game three-hitter, striking out nine. Tech responded to the Ragin’ Cajuns one run in the second inning with four of its own to defeat ULL and improve to 3-1 on the season. Louisiana-Lafayette falls to 2-1.
ULL’s Holly Tankersley opened up the scoring in the top of the second inning with a solo home run to right field as the Ragin’ Cajuns led the Yellow Jackets, 1-0.
Tech’s Katie Donovan (Marietta, Ga.) led off the bottom half of the second inning with a single up the middle. After a fly out, Tech loaded the bases on a walk and single by junior third baseman Kirin Kumar (Santa Ana, Calif.). The Rambling Wreck then took advantage of an error and two stolen bases tallying four runs to take a 4-1 lead heading to the top of the third inning.
The Jackets loaded the bases in the bottom of the third inning with singles from Donovan and senior outfielder Sara Wissmann (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) and a walk. ULL pitcher Brooke Mitchell was able to shut the door on Tech not allowing a ball to leave the infield as the score remained 4-1.
Sallinger and Mitchell shut the door for the remaining of the game as neither team managed a run in the final four innings of play.
Leading the Jackets offensively was Donovan. She went 3-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored. Sophomore Amy Hosier (Lakewood, Colo.) drove in a run for the Rambling Wreck, finishing the game 1-for-4 with a stolen base.
Tech scored four runs, on six hits and no errors, while ULL scored one run, on three hits and two errors.
Georgia Tech will play Chattanooga next Saturday, Feb. 14, in its home opener at Glenn Field. The game is scheduled to start at Noon.
