Feb. 25, 2009
KENNESAW, Ga. – Senior Whitney Haller went 2-for-3 with three RBI and freshman Jessica Coan and sophomore Kristen Adkins combined for a one-hit shutout as the Georgia Tech softball team (9-5) defeated Kennesaw State (5-8), 8-0, Wednesday afternoon. Haller now has 195 RBI in her career, surpassing former teammate Savannah Brown who had a Tech and ACC record 194 in her career.
Senior Tiffany Johnson was 2-for-3 on the day and hit her team-high fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot in the third inning. Sophomore Kristen Adkins also had two hits on the day for the Yellow Jackets.
Georgia Tech got going right away with two runs in the top of the first inning. Christy Jones reached on a one-out walk and switched places with Jen Yee when she reached on a fielder’s choice. Tiffany Johnson then ripped a pitch into left field that ricocheted off the glove of Jordan Hackett. It was ruled an error, but Yee scored the first run of the game. Whitney Haller then lined a 3-0 pitch just inside the right-field line for a RBI double giving the Yellow Jackets a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first inning, Coan gave up a walk and hit a batter with two outs, but came back to strike out Amanda Burns and get out of the inning.
Johnson made it a 4-0 game with a two-run home run in the top of the third inning. Yee, who had singled scored ahead of her.
Coan, meanwhile, was on cruise control. She fanned seven Kennesaw State batters in her four innings of work while not allowing a hit and walking three. Adkins relieved her for the bottom of the fifth inning.
Tech added to its lead in the top of the fifth when Haller broke the record. She came up with the bases loaded and one out and delivered a two-run single up the middle. This was one batter after Johnson hit a rocket off the leg of KSU relief pitcher Amanda Burns. After Haller’s record-breaking hit, starting pitcher Catherine Tarvin came back in the game and got Kelsi Weseman to hit into an inning-ending double play.
The Jackets added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning to enforce the run rule as junior Kelly Eppinger had a RBI single and then freshman Shannon Bear had a RBI single to left-center field in her first career at bat.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Jamie Kekaulaua reached base via an infield single breaking up the Jackets no-hit bid. Adkins got through the rest of the inning and held on for the win.
Coan picked up her first collegiate win as she pitched the first four scoreless innings. She did not allow a hit, walked three and struck out a career-high seven batters. Adkins pitched the final two innings, allowing just the one hit. She did not walk a batter and fanned two.
Georgia Tech will now participate in the NFCA Leadoff Classic this weekend in Columbus, Ga. The Yellow Jackets begin play on Friday against No. 16/19 Louisiana-Lafayette at 4:00 p.m. and No. 20/23 LSU at 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, Tech will take on Illinois State at 11:00 a.m. and then No. 18/17 Northwestern at 4:00 p.m. The weekend concludes at 10:00 a.m. Sunday morning when Georgia Tech and Penn State will tangle. Live audio and stats of each game this season is available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
