Feb. 27, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ga. – Tara Knudsen slugged two home runs and drove in four runs against Virginia Tech and Sara Wissmann doubled with two outs in the last inning against No. 14 Nebraska to lead the Georgia Tech softball team to victories today, 6-5 and 1-0, at the Leadoff Classic Tournament in the South Commons Softball Complex. Tech (13-1) extends its winning streak to 11 games and will face No. 7 Michigan in the final game of pool competition on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 10 a.m.
Against Virginia Tech, the Jackets got a two-run home run by Knudsen in the third inning to give Tech a 3-0 lead. The Hokies answered with a home run by Shanel Garofalo in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the deficit to two, 3-1.
Right fielder Amy Hosier began the fifth inning with a base hit to center field and Knudsen sent a second blast over the right field fence as Tech increased its advantage to five, 5-1. Third baseman Kirin Kumar added another run for the Yellow Jackets in the sixth inning on a two-out base hit to center field as Tech led 6-1 heading to the final inning.
Virginia Tech did not go quietly as the Hokies began the bottom of the seventh inning with three base hits and a walk. After tallying a pair of outs, the Hokies got another single and cut the lead to just two, 6-4. VT then recorded a bases loaded walk and Tech’s lead was down to one, 6-5. Senior pitcher Erin Voeltz then nailed the door shut with a big strikeout to close out the ballgame, 6-5.
Knudsen led the Jackets with her 37th and 38th home runs of her career. She currently stands one home run away from tying the all-time record of 39, set by Anne Knobbe.
Voeltz (6-1) threw all seven innings, allowing 10 hits, five runs, five earned runs and six strikeouts.
In the nightcap, Tech and Nebraska received two great pitching performances from the Yellow Jackets’ Jessica Sallinger and the ‘Huskers Tobias. Sallinger surrendered a base hit in the fourth inning as NU’s Tannahill singled to right field. Neither team managed another hit as the game went to the seventh inning scoreless.
After a leadoff walk by NU’s Peaches James, Sallinger recorded a pop out for the first out of the inning. James then stole second base to give NU its first real threat of the game. With the game on the line, Sallinger tallied two big strikeouts to send the game to the bottom of the seventh inning scoreless.
With one out, Knudsen broke up NU’s Tobias’ no-hitter with a single to left field. Junior Liz Bartle followed with a shot in the hole between shortstop and third base to give Tech runners at first and second. Soraya Reddick then hit a line drive to the second baseman and the Jackets were down to their final out. Wissmann, who entered the game as a defensive change in the sixth inning, then sent a double down the left field line to drive in the winning run as the Yellow Jackets knocked off No. 14 Nebraska, 1-0.
Sallinger finished the game with her second one-hitter of the season, striking out 10 to improve to 7-0 on the season. She has tallied five complete-game shutouts this season.
The winner of Georgia Tech and Michigan will advance to the Gold Championship Bracket tomorrow afternoon.
