Feb. 8, 2004
MONROE, La. – The Georgia Tech softball team dropped its first game of the season this morning to Kentucky, 5-3, in the Mardi Gras Classic, at the ULM Lady Indian Softball Complex. The Yellow Jackets led 3-1 heading into the sixth inning, but surrendered three unearned runs in the top half of the inning to fall to 2-1 on the season. UK improves to 4-1.
Kentucky struck first in the top of the second inning as Emily Marks hit a home run to center field as Tech trailed 1-0 after two innings of play.
Junior Liz Bartle (Coral Springs, Fla.) put Tech ahead in the bottom of the third inning with a blast to right center field to score three Yellow Jacket runners as the Rambling Wreck jumped ahead of the Wildcats 3-1 heading to the fourth inning.
Senior pitcher Erin Voeltz (Westlake Calif.) retired the next 12 Wildcat batters as the game headed into the sixth inning with Tech clinging to a two-run lead.
With one out in the sixth inning, UK rallied ahead of the Jackets with four runs on four hits. The Wildcats began the rally with consecutive singles to score the first run of the inning. After another single and a fly out by UK, Tech committed a costly error with two outs to allow three more runs as Kentucky surged ahead, 5-3.
The Yellow Jackets were unable to apply a serious threat in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Wildcats downed Tech by a 5-3 final. Voeltz threw her second complete game of the season for the Jackets, scattering six hits and allowing just two earned runs. She struck out nine Wildcat hitters on the afternoon.
Bartle drove in Tech’s three runs with her three-run homer in the third inning, finishing the game 1-for-3. Senior shortstop Tara Knudsen (Thornton, Colo.) went 1-for-1 with two walks for the Rambling Wreck.
Georgia Tech will face No. 9 Louisiana-Lafayette (3-0) in the final game of the Mardi Gras Classic this afternoon. The Yellow Jackets and Ragin’ Cajuns are scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m.
