May 1, 2016
RALEIGH, N.C. – After almost a two-hour rain delay, the Georgia Tech softball team (22-30, 7-13 ACC) overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the NC State Wolfpack (22-31, 5-16), 5-3, at Dail Softball Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Quote
“That was a huge comeback win for our team,” head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “We never gave up and kept fighting. That’s what I love about this team; they fight. When you continue to fight and never give up, good things will happen. I’m so proud of this team.”
How it Happened
With runners on the corners and two outs in the bottom of the third, a passed ball brought in a Wolfpack run to put NC State on the board 1-0. The Pack added to their lead in the fourth inning on a solo home run from Tyler Ross to make it 2-0.
In the top of the fifth with two outs, Kaylee Ellebracht singled and Jessica Kowalewicz drew a walk. Samantha Pierannunzi ripped a single up the middle to plate Ellebracht and cut the Wolfpack lead to one, 2-1.
The Jackets put up a four-spot in the top of the sixth. Courtney Ziese won a 12-pitch at bat with a walk, and moved to second on an attempted sacrifice bunt by Katie Krzus, who reached on an NC State error. Morgan Taylor’s pinch-hit single up the middle brought in Ziese and tied the game 2-2.
Maddie Lionberger kept the rally alive with a single up the middle to bring in Krzus and put Georgia Tech in the lead, 3-2. A two-RBI single off the bat of Draven Sonnon made it 5-2 for Georgia Tech.
The Pack added a run in the bottom of the same inning with the bases loaded and one out, but the Jackets turned their 20th double play of the season to end the threat and maintain a 5-3 lead.
Jenna Goodrich (11-16) earned the win allowing three runs on eight hits in a complete-game effort. NC State used three pitchers in the loss with reliever Harli Hubbard (4-7) suffering the loss.
Quick Hits
– Maddie Lionberger went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run
– Samantha Pierannunzi, Kelsey Chisholm, Courtney Ziese, Morgan Taylor and Kaylee Ellebracht each had a hit, while Ziese, Katie Krzus, Colleen Darragh and Ellebracht added one run each
– Draven Sonnon tallied a two-RBI single
– Jessica Kowalewicz drew two walks
Up Next
Georgia Tech wraps up the regular season at home against North Carolina. Saturday’s single game is at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday’s doubleheader at 1 p.m. is Georgia Tech’s Senior Day on ESPN3.
Keep up with Yellow Jacket softball this season by following Georgia Tech Softball on Twitter at @GaTechSoftball, Instagram at @GaTechSoftball and liking Georgia Tech Softball on Facebook.