April 2, 2016
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Georgia Tech softball team (14-21, 3-8 ACC) hit six home runs through two extra-inning games as the Yellow Jackets split a pair of games at Syracuse (17-16, 4-7) on Saturday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets fell, 8-7, in a 13-inning marathon in game one, before winning game two, 6-3, in eight innings.
Despite the snow flurries, the Jackets’ bats were hot. Tech hit four home runs in game one and two in game two. The first game is officially the longest game in Georgia Tech softball history.
The rubber match that was scheduled for Sunday at 12 p.m. has been cancelled due to forecasted inclement weather.
How It Happened
Game 1: Syracuse 8, Georgia Tech 7
The Yellow Jackets came out of the gate aggressively in game one. In the top of the first, Samantha Pierannunzi smashed a leadoff double to left center and moved to third on Kelsey Chisholm’s team leading ninth sacrifice bunt. Katie Krzus stepped to the plate and took the first offering through the left side for a single to bring in Pierannunzi and give Tech a 1-0 lead.
Back-to-back doubles to lead off the bottom of the third for the Orange tied the game 1-1. With runners on the corners and two outs in the same inning, a three-run home run by Sydney O’Hara put the Orange in front, 4-1.
A solo shot to left by Courtney Ziese for her fourth home run of the season cut Syracuse’s lead in half 4-2 in the top of the sixth. Maddie Lionberger followed with a double, and with two outs Draven Sonnon sliced one to deep right to bring in Lionberger to pull Georgia Tech within one, 4-3.
Another home run by O’Hara to lead off the bottom of the sixth put the Orange ahead, 5-3. The Yellow Jackets rallied with back-to-back home runs by Pierannunzi and Chisholm to tie the game at five. Krzus singled and Ziese rocked her second home run of the game to straight-away center, give Tech the 7-5 advantage.
With the bases loaded and one out, Syracuse plated two runs to force extra innings. In the 13th inning, Syracuse strung together two hits to plate the winning run and win 8-7.
Emily Anderson (9-13) pitched all 12.2 innings, and was pinned with the loss. Annamarie Gatti pitched the first 6.1 innings, before giving away to Jocelyn Cater in the seventh inning. Cater (8-5) earned the win allowing three hits in 6.2 innings of work.
Game 2: Georgia Tech 6, Syracuse 4
The Jackets jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Pierannunzi singled, stole second and scored on a single by Krzus. Ziese hit another home run for her third of the day to plate two runs.
Syracuse got on the board in the third inning with two runs to cut Georgia Tech’s lead down to one run, 3-2. In the bottom of the seventh with two outs and the tying run on third, Syracuse’s Andrea Bombace doubled to score the run and knot the game 3-3, forcing extra frames.
In the top of the eighth, Colleen Darragh launched a leadoff home run to centerfield for her first long ball of the season, giving Georgia Tech the 4-3 lead. Draven Sonnon and Jessica Kowalewicz drew walks, and with two outs both runners scored on a single up the middle from Chisholm, which put Georgia Tech in the lead 6-3.
Syracuse plated a run in the bottom of the eighth, but Georgia Tech held on for the 6-4 victory.
Jenna Goodrich (5-8) earned the win, throwing 7.1 innings with four runs on seven hits and seven strikeouts. Syracuse used three pitchers in the loss with AnnaMarie Gatti (7-9) suffering the loss after giving up three runs on four hits in three innings pitched.
Quote
“I thought the team was very resilient today,” head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “I’m proud of how they continued to fight through the cold temperatures, long games, and snow flurries. Our bats were pretty hot and it was contagious. It was huge to win the second game after playing 13 innings in the first game.”
Quick hits
– The first game is officially the longest game in school history at 13 innings
– Pierannunzi went 3-for-7 with two runs, an RBI, a double, and a home run
– The Jackets hit four home runs in the first game, led by Courtney Ziese’s two bombs
– Kelsey Chisholm hit her second home run of the year in game one
– Ziese and Maddie Lionberger both went 3-for-6, Ziese added three RBI with a pair of runs in game one
– Ziese hit another home run in the second game
– Colleen Darragh hit her first home run of the season for the go-ahead run in game two
Keep up with Yellow Jacket softball this season by following Georgia Tech Softball on Twitter at @GaTechSoftball, Instagram at @GaTechSoftball and liking Georgia Tech Softball on Facebook.
