April 13, 2018
PITTSBURGH – Georgia Tech softball (22-19, 8-6 ACC) split Friday’s doubleheader with Pittsburgh (21-16-1, 10-6 ACC), dropping game one, 4-2 before storming back to take game two, 8-6 to even the series.
Head coach Aileen Morales says:
“I’m impressed with how our team responded in game two today. They had much better at bats and were taking aggressive swings. I’m very proud of Krzus and her clutch home run. This was another team effort and we are happy to earn the win.”
Game 1: Pitt 4, GT 2
Pittsburgh made it onto the board first in the bottom of the first inning. With senior Emily Anderson in the circle for the Jackets, the Panthers dropped a double into shallow right field to put a runner on second. Another double, this time to left center, plated the runner from second and Pitt took the early lead at 1-0.
The Jackets held the score at 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning. With two out, Pitt put a runner on base with an error by senior Malea Bell at third. A walk put runners on first and second, and a three-run homer plated three unearned runs for the Panthers and moved the score to 4-0. Freshman Naomi Dickerson came into the circle to finish out the game for the Jackets.
Trailing 4-0 heading into the top of the seventh, the Jackets made their way onto the board. Junior Katie Krzus led off the inning with a single up the middle to land herself at first. Sophomore Rebecca Prairie stepped up and knocked a two-run home run over left center to plate Krzus, bringing the score to 4-2, and that is where it would stay. The comeback came up short and Anderson was landed with the loss.
Game 2: GT 8, Pitt 6
The Jackets wasted no time getting right into the swing of the things in game two. Senior Draven Sonnon led off the first with a double down the left field line. Freshman Cameron Stanford drew a walk to reach base and put runners on first and second. Krzus sent a single deep to right center, scoring Sonnon and putting Stanford at third. With one out and the 1-0 lead, sophomore Crosby Huckabay doubled to left center, scoring Stanford and moving Krzus to third. Leading 2-0 with runners on second and third, freshman Lilly Hooper drilled a two-RBI single to right center, allowing Krzus and Huckabay to score and giving Tech the 4-0 edge. The Panthers made a pitching change. Hooper advanced to second on a wild pitch and Ellebracht drew a walk to reach base. Freshman Saige Pye took a pitch to the body to load the bases. Back at the top of the order, Sonnon knocked another double down the left field line to score Hooper and Ellebracht and put Tech up 6-0.
With the 6-0 edge in the bottom of the second, sophomore Brooke Barfield gave up back-to-back singles to let the Panthers put runners on base. A homer over center field plated three runs and put Pitt on the board at 6-3.
The Panthers added to their tally in the bottom of the third, leading off the inning with a home run over center field. Dickerson came into the circle for her second appearance of the day. Dickerson walked her first batter and gave up a double to put runners on second and third. Another walk loaded the bases and a single to center field added another run to bring the score to 6-5.
Anderson came into the circle in the bottom of the fifth with the score at 6-5. A lead-off double put a runner on second, advancing her to third on a sacrifice bunt. With one out, a single to right field plated the runner from third to even the score at 6-6.
Tied at 6-6 in the top of the sixth, Sonnon drew a walk to reach base, and advanced to second on a groundout from Stanford. Krzus knocked her ninth home run of the season off the scoreboard in left field to score Sonnon and give Tech back the lead at 8-6. The Jackets held on and Anderson struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to come away with the victory.
Up next:
The Jackets close out the series against Pitt on Saturday at 1 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
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