Feb. 16, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Junior pitcher Tiffany Johnson tossed a three-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts to lead the Georgia Tech Softball Team (4-5) to a 6-0 win over New Mexico (4-3) tonight in bracket play of the Hampton Inn Crimson Classic. The Jackets scored one run in the sixth and five more in the seventh to turn a pitcher’s duel into a comfortable win. The Yellow Jackets will now face No. 2/2 Alabama for the third time in four days at 2:30 PM ET tomorrow in the championship game.
It was a scoreless game through the first five innings as Johnson and New Mexico pitcher Kelly Ninemire were locked up in a pitcher’s duel. Ninemire had retired 14 straight batters until senior Stephanie Butler led off the top of the sixth inning with a single up the middle. Two batters later, Tech perfectly executed a slap and run as Butler took off for second base and freshman Christy Jones slapped the ball through the vacated hole in the right side of the infield. Butler continued onto third base and the Jackets were in business. Blair Shimandle then reached on an error allowing Butler to score the go-ahead run and break the scoreless deadlock. Ninemire was able to get out the inning, however, without any further damage.
After Johnson retired the Lobos in order in the bottom of the sixth, Tech broke the game open with a five-run seventh inning. Kyla Nelson entered the game in relief for New Mexico and all four batters she faced came around to score. Freshman Amanda Crow was credited with a RBI as she reached on one of three New Mexico errors in the inning. Butler added a RBI single in the frame while senior Aileen Morales picked up a RBI triple as Tech gave John son more than enough insurance. The other run came across on an error.
Johnson worked around a two-out double in the seventh to record her second shutout at Georgia Tech. She scattered just three hits, did not walk a batter and recorded 12 strikeouts.
The Yellow Jackets will now face No. 2/2 Alabama for the third time in four days for the Hampton Inn Crimson Classic championship on Sunday at 2:30 PM ET. Live audio and stats of each Tech game this weekend will be available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
