March 2, 2014
THE FLATS – Boston College broke a 2-2 tie with four runs in the seventh inning to defeat the Georgia Tech softball team, 6-2, in the series finale Sunday at Mewborn Field. The Jackets fell to 11-4 overall and 1-2 in ACC play, while the Eagles improved to 8-5 on the season and 2-1 in conference action.
“We’ve got to bring our A game and bring it throughout the entire game,” head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “We are just being very inconsistent right now. Kylie Kleinschmidt is doing a great job pitching and we just have to play behind her, defensively and offensively. We definitely didn’t bring our A game today.”
Senior Ashley Thomas went 1-for-2 with a run to lead the Jackets, while Maddie Lionberger was 1-for-2 with a home run. Katie Johnsky extended her reached base safely streak to 15 games and was 1-for-3 with a RBI.
The Jackets drew first blood in the first inning as Johnsky’s RBI-single brought Ashley Thomas home. The Eagles scored runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 2-1 lead, but Lionberger’s fourth home run of the season in the fifth frame knotted the score 2-2.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, Boston College managed to score four runs on three hits and one costly Georgia Tech error.
“We’ve got to compete,” Hoerner said. “We’ve got to compete from pitch number one until the last out. We’ve got to be more mentally tough. We’ve got to come up in clutch situations; we’re leaving too many runners in scoring position. We have to bring our A game to every single game we play.”
Kylie Kleinschmidt (8-1) suffered her first loss of the season and surrendered six runs on six hits in a complete-game effort.
Jordan Weed (3-1) entered the game in the fifth inning with a tied score and allowed just one hit in three innings of work to earn the win.
The Jackets continue their 21-game home stand with a midweek matchup Wednesday against Troy beginning at 4 p.m.
Tech is back in ACC action Saturday and Sunday with a three-game series against Notre Dame. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. on both days. Sunday’s contest is Tech’s pink game and will air on ESPN3.
