March 11, 2015
THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech softball team (10-13) out-hit Jacksonville State (13-7), 5-3, but the Gamecocks edged the Jackets, 2-1, Wednesday at Mewborn Field.
Freshman Kelsey Chisholm went 2-for-3 to lead Georgia Tech, and Courtney Ziese scored Tech’s run in the fifth on a solo home run to center.
“We just didn’t execute cashing runners in,” head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “We need to do a better job offensively of doing whatever it takes to cash those runners in, especially when they’re in scoring position. Leaving too many runners on base doesn’t win ball games.”
Jacksonville State pushed its first run across in the opening frame. Melanie Steer drew a base-loaded, one-out walk to score the run, and the Jackets induced a pop up and strike out to end the threat and limit the damage.
From there, senior pitcher Kylie Kleinschmidt (3-7) settled in, allowing three hits and one run over the next six innings with 10 strikeouts.
With two outs in the top of the fourth inning, the Gamecocks added another run on a solo shot to center by Emily Woodruff.
Ziese cut Jacksonville State’s lead in half in the fifth frame after drilling her team-leading fifth home run.
The Jackets had two runners on base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to potentially tie the score or win the game, but couldn’t cash the runners in.
Jacksonville State’s Taylor West (3-2) earned the win, surrendering one run on five hits in a complete-game effort.
Tech is back in ACC action this weekend with a three-game series against Pitt. Action starts with a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. and a single game Sunday at 12 p.m. All three games will air on ESPN3.
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