April 10, 2005
ATLANTA – Senior Jessica Sallinger (20-6) tossed her 24th complete game of the season, scattering five hits, allowing one run and fanned 12, to lead No. 21 Georgia Tech (38-9, 9-2 ACC) over NC State (31-22, 2-6 ACC), 2-1, on Sunday afternoon at Glenn Field. Sophomore Daisy Paez drove in the game-winning run for the Yellow Jackets in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Tech an Atlantic Coast Conference sweep over the Wolfpack.
The Jackets jumped out in front early, 1-0, with an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning on an error by the NC State catcher as freshman Aileen Morales came in to score on a ground ball hit to third base by freshman Savannah Brown.
The Wolfpack tried to tie the game in the top of the second inning as Ashleigh Davis lined one to the left-center gap with runners at the corners and two outs, but freshman Kacey Ivey made a diving catch to snatch a run away from NC State as Tech continued to lead 1-0.
Both pitchers rolled through the hitting lineups over the next four innings as the game advanced to the bottom of the fifth inning with Tech still leading 1-0. The Wolfpack’s Abbie Sims entered the circle for NC State, relieving Shaina Ervin who allowed two hits and one unearned run. Sims retired the side in order.
Paez drove in an insurance run for the Jackets in the bottom of the sixth inning with a double to the left-center field gap to plate junior Amy Hosier who drew a walk as Tech led 2-0.
NC State mounted a comeback in the top of the seventh inning as Shanna Smith singled to left field and Sims doubled to left field to put runners at second and third with no outs. Renee LaCroix drove in a run on a ground out to second base as Tech’s lead was cut to one, 2-1. Sallinger recorded the second out of the inning on a ground out to third base, which prevented the Wolfpack from scoring and tallied her 12th strikeout of the game to end the game for the Jackets.
Morales went 1-for-2, with two stolen bases (35), while Paez finished 1-for-3, with a double and one RBI. Ivey finished the game 1-for-2, with a stolen base (15) and sophomore Sarah Wood went 1-for-1.
The Yellow Jackets will travel to archrival Georgia this Wednesday, April 13, for a non-conference single game in Athens. The Jackets and 10th-ranked Bulldogs (38-8) will start at 6 p.m.
-GT SOFTBALL-
