Feb. 29, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ga. – Georgia Tech scored three runs in the first inning and five more in the third inning to cruise past No. 16 Fresno State, 9-1 (5), in the semifinals of the Silver Championship bracket at the Leadoff Classic. Seniors Soraya Reddick and Tara Knudsen drove in five runs for the Yellow Jackets as Tech improved to 15-2 on the season.
The Yellow Jackets jumped on the Bulldogs early with three runs in the top of the first inning. Junior second baseman Katie Donovan reached base on an error by the third baseman and advanced to second base on the wild throw. Donovan advanced to third base on an illegal pitch and scored on a fielder’s choice by senior shortstop Tara Knudsen. Knudsen moved over to second base on a wild pitch and to third on a single by senior outfielder Soraya Reddick. Reddick stole second base and moved to third on a throwing error by the catcher as Knudsen scored to make it a 2-0 lead. Reddick scored the third and final run of the inning as sophomore first baseman Lauren Schlechte reached first base on an error by the shortstop. The Bulldogs closed the inning with a ground out to the pitcher as Tech led by three after one inning.
Tech tacked on another run in the second inning as sophomore Amy Hosier singled up the middle to score Donovan as Tech took a 4-0 advantage into the third inning.
Fresno State threatened in the bottom of the third inning putting its first two runners on base by way of the walk. Junior pitcher Sallinger then induced a force out at second base for the first out. The Bulldogs’ Christina Clark then singled to right field but Tech threw a Bulldog out at the plate trying to advance on a wild throw to the plate. The final out of the inning came with a line out to the pitcher as the game went to the fourth inning with Tech leading, 4-0.
The Yellow Jackets put runners at first and second with one out on two walks in the fourth inning to chase Bulldog pitcher Laura Ferriera out of the game. Tech then pulled off a double steal to put runners at second and third with one out. Donovan became the third Jacket base runner of the inning to reach base on a free pass and Hosier earned a RBI by walking with the bases loaded to tally another run. Fresno State brought in its third pitcher of the inning, Lori Hoffman, to face Knudsen. Knudsen doubled to right field to drive in two more runs and Hosier advanced home on a wild throw from the outfield as Tech led 8-0. Reddick slugged a base hit to left field to drive in the fifth run of the inning as Tech opened up a 9-0 lead. Schlechte then lined in to a double play to end the top of the fourth inning.
The Rambling Wreck loaded the bases for the second time in three innings as Wissmann walked, Kumar singled to left field and Donovan walked. Hosier tallied the second out of the inning with a shot to the pitcher who made a nice play for the force out at home plate. Hoffman recorded the final out of the inning as she got Knudsen to fly out to center field as the game headed to the bottom of the fifth with Tech leading 9-0.
The Bulldogs broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Yellow Jackets committed two errors, but held Fresno State to one unearned run as Tech rolled 9-1.
Sallinger (8-1) threw four innings, allowing two hits, no runs and struck out five. Knudsen drove in four runs for the Jackets, finished 1-for-4, with a double. Reddick ended the game 2-for-3, with one RBI.
Tech will face the winner of Notre Dame/No. 14 Nebraska in the championship game around 1:30 p.m.
