Feb. 23, 2008
TAMPA, Fla. – A five-run first inning was more than enough offense for junior Tiffany Johnson as she pitched her second straight shutout in Georgia Tech’s (5-7) 5-0 win over Wright State (2-7) Saturday night in the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament. Johnson scattered just three hits and struck out eight. Senior Aileen Morales broke Laura Williams’ Tech stolen base record (110) in the second inning.
After sitting around all day due to heavy rain in the Tampa area, first pitch finally came right around 9:30 PM, but the Yellow Jacket bats exploded for five runs in the first inning. Junior Tiffany Johnson struck out the side in the top of the first and then the offense went to work. Consecutive singles by freshman Christy Jones and junior Blair Shimandle put to on with one out. Junior Whitney Haller made it 2-0 Tech with a double into center field.
Two batters later, freshman Jessica Weaver made it 3-0 with a RBI double into left-center field and then senior Savannah Brown knocked out Wright State starting pitcher Sharon Palma with a two-run home run. It was her 38th career home run. Allison Cox entered the game in relief and got the final out, but the damage had been done.
Tech threatened again in the bottom of the second inning, but Cox was able to keep the Raiders’ deficit at 5-0. Senior Aileen Morales worked a one-out walk and was sacrificed to second base by Jones. After Shimandle walked to out two on with two outs, the due executed a double steal. For Morales, it was the 111th of her career, breaking Laura Williams’ all-time Georgia Tech record.
Johnson continued to baffle Wright State batters. The Raiders got consecutive one-out singles in the fourth, their first hits of the game against Johnson, but she kept the off the scoreboard.
Senior Stephanie Butler continued her amazing defense as she made a highlight-reel catch in the top of the sixth inning robbing Kristen Bradshaw of extra bases.
The Jackets threatened a few more times, but Cox was able to keep them off the scoreboard.
Johnson (2-2), meanwhile, worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning for her second straight shutout. She scattered three hits and three walks while striking out eight. Palma took the loss for Wright State. She lasted just 0.2 of an inning and was charged for all five earned runs on five hits and five walks.
Today’s schedule was revised after a five-hour rain delay earlier. The Jackets’ game vs. Wisconsin scheduled for this afternoon was cancelled and will not be made up. The Yellow Jackets will close out the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament tomorrow against South Florida at 2:00 PM. Live stats will be available via Gametracker at www.ramblinwreck.com.
