April 19, 2005
ATHENS, Ga. – Junior Amy Hosier went 1-for-2, with two runs batted in and senior Jessica Sallinger (22-6) tossed a complete game, striking out 10, to lead No. 18 Georgia Tech (41-9) over archrival No. 12 Georgia (41-10), 4-3, at the UGA Softball Complex on Tuesday night.
“I’m proud of the way our girls played today,” said head coach Ehren Earleywine. “They overcame some obstacles like the triple play, but Jessie was able to come back that next inning and record three strikeouts to kill momentum. Even though we only scored four runs today, I was encouraged by the fact that we had runners on base all game long. You just hope that if you face them in a regional, someone comes up with a gap shot.”
Senior Kirin Kumar finished 1-for-3, with one RBI and junior Christine Sheridan went 1-for-3 to lead the Jackets offensively. UGA’s Katie Vickers led the Bulldogs offensive attack, going 3-for-4, with two runs batted in.
The Yellow Jackets drew first blood in the top of the first inning. Freshman Aileen Morales drew a walk to leadoff the game, stole second base on the very next pitch and came around to score on a throwing error by the UGA catcher as Tech led 1-0.
The Bulldogs’ Vickers answered in the bottom half of the first inning with a two-out single to right field to plate Megan McAllister who reached on a single up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch as the game was tied at 1-1 after one.
Kumar put Tech ahead 2-1 in the top of the second inning with a two-out single to left field to plate senior Katie Donovan who walked and moved over to second base on a fielder’s choice by freshman Kacey Ivey.
The Yellow Jackets loaded the bases with one out in the top of the third inning and Hosier welcomed new pitcher Katie Griffith with a base hit to left field to score two more runs and extend Tech’s lead to three, 4-1.
Vickers brought the Bulldogs within two in the bottom of the third inning with her second RBI of the game on a double off the left field fence to plate Jessica Gilmore who reached base on a walk.
With the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the fifth inning, Hosier stung a ball into the right-center gap, but UGA’s Kelsey Todd made a diving grab and turned it into a triple play as she relayed it in to second base for the second out and the Bulldogs threw over to third base to tally the final out of the inning.
UGA’s McAllister singled to right-center field with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to score Katie Lewis from second base and cut Tech’s lead down to one, 4-3. Sallinger induced a fly out to center field to end the inning and advance the game to the seventh inning with the Jackets clinging to a one-run lead.
Both teams went down in order in their final at bats as the Yellow Jackets defeated a Top 15 team for the first time this season.
Tech will remain out of conference on Wednesday as the Jackets travel to Panthersville for a single game with Georgia State. Game time is set for 6 p.m. All Georgia Tech softball games can be followed on www.ramblinwreck.com.
-GT SOFTBALL-
