March 25, 2018
NORTHRIDGE. Calif. – Georgia Tech softball (19-11) dropped a close one on the road, 7-6, on Sunday against Santa Clara in the final game of the Matador Classic.
Head coach Aileen Morales says:
“It’s frustrating to see such inconsistencies with our team at this point in the year. One day we show up and play every inning with focus and intent, the next we go through the motions. Eventually that catches up to you. We have to hand it to Santa Clara, they wanted it more today and they earned a win. We have a tough week of games coming up and will have to respond to this with more grit and fire.”
How it happened:
Tech struck first. Freshman Lilly Hooper drew a walk to lead off the second inning. With Hooper on base, sophomore Crosby Huckabay stepped up and sent the third pitch she saw over the left field fence to give Tech the 2-0 lead. It was her fourth home run of the season.
Tech added to its tally in the third. Junior Katie Krzus led off with a walk, then advanced on a walk from sophomore Rebecca Prairie. Hooper dropped a single just past the infield to load the bases. With two outs, freshman Breanna Roper drew a walk to bring in Krzus from third and bring the score to 3-0. Bases still loaded, Huckabay got her second hit of the game, a single to left field, plating Prairie and Hooper to make the score 5-0 in favor of the Jackets.
Santa Clara responded in the bottom of the third, plating four to end the shutout of senior Emily Anderson, who made her fourth start in the circle this week. The Broncos scored three runs on three hits and plated one on an error to bring the score to 5-4.
Freshman Naomi Dickerson came into the circle in relief in the bottom of the fourth for the Jackets. The California native allowed the Broncos to tie the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the fourth with an unearned run off a single to right field.
The Jackets took back the lead in the second. Senior Draven Sonnon singled up the middle to reach base. Hooper hit one to the second baseman but reached on a fielder’s choice with Sonnon out at second on the play. Senior Kelsey Chisholm reached on an error, advancing Hooper to second. Roper sent a single to left field, plating Hooper from second to get Tech back the lead at 6-5.
Santa Clara tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth. A single combined with a stolen base landed a runner on second and a deep double to center field scored the tying run for the Broncos. Another single scored the winning run for Santa Clara and Tech fell, 7-6 in six. Dickerson was landed with the loss.
Up next:
Tech returns to The Flats for a six-game home stand starting on Wednesday, March 28 when the Jackets host Georgia State at 6 p.m. at Mewborn Field.
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