May 19, 2012
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Georgia Tech softball team blasted 11 hits en route to a 9-1 victory over Tennessee-Martin in the NCAA Second Round elimination game, keeping its postseason hopes alive. The Yellow Jackets (37-22) put together a six run top of the seventh to seal the victory.
The Jackets will move on to face South Alabama in a rematch of Friday’s NCAA first round game to determine who will move on to Championship Sunday. UT-Martin finishes its 2012 season with a 39-22 record.
Tech was led by Kelsi Weseman who went 4-for-4 on the day. The third time in her career she has had four hits and the first time since her April 18, 2009 of her freshman year. Hope Rush (26-12) was successful on the mound for the Jackets pitching all seven innings, allowing just four hits and one run while striking out three.
Tech was the first to score when they notched the first run of the game in the top of the first inning. Ashley Thomas led things off with a four pitch walk, stealing second in the next at bat. After fighting off a couple of pitches, Kelsi Weseman knocked one through the left side while Thomas came around from second to score using her speed to give the Jackets a 1-0 lead.
UT-Martin evened things up at one-all in the bottom of the third inning. Kayla Wade drew a walk with a full count and scored all the way from first on a hit to deep left field by Jenny Bain.
However the Jackets got back on top in the top of the fifth. Katie Johnsky started things off with a single to centerfield and was replaced on the basepaths by Kaitlin Kates. Kates moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Karly Fullem and to third after Chelsie Thomas got on via a fielding error by the UT-Martin first baseman.
A chopper over the head of the Skyhawk third baseman drove in Kates from third to regain the lead for Tech. On a single up the middle by Weseman, Chelsie Thomas tried to score from second but was thrown out at the plate, however, Kuzma also sent a single up the middle in the next at bat to plate Ashley Thomas and give the Jackets a 3-1 lead.
Tech added to its lead when, with the bases loaded, Hope Rush laid down the squeeze bunt on a 2-0 count fooling everyone. Ashley Thomas snuck home and after an errant throw by the Skyhawk third baseman got past the catcher, Kelsi Weseman scored as well to boost the lead to 5-1. An infield single by Alysha Rudnik brought home Kuzma from third for Tech’s sixth run of the game.
Johnsky connected on a single to right to drive in two more runs with the bases loaded and Bear, who moved up to third on Johnsky’s hit came home on a sacrifice fly to center by Karly Fullem as Tech gained an eight-run advantage in the top of the seventh and the victory.
Keep up to date with the Georgia Tech Softball team all season long at www.RamblinWreck.com as well as twitter.com/GaTechSoftball and facebook.com/GTSoftball.
