April 7, 2010
ATLANTA – A three-run home run by Ashley Razey in the top of the seventh inning gave the No. 15/12 Georgia Softball team (28-8) a come-from-behind 5-4 win over No. 10/6 Georgia Tech (32-6) in front of a capacity crowd of 1,500 Wednesday night at Mewborn Field. It marked the largest home crowd in Georgia Tech softball history.
The Yellow Jackets took a 4-2 lead into the seventh inning, but stranded 11 runners in the game. Tech had the bases loaded and one out in the first two innings, but was unable to add to its lead. Freshman Hope Rush took the loss as she fell to 18-4 on the season. She was charged with five runs (four earned) on eight hits and four walks. She also struck out four and threw 144 pitches.
Redshirt senior Jen Yee was on base all four times against Georgia as she walked twice, was hit by a pitch and doubled. She scored two runs and also stole a base. Sophomore Kate Kuzma was 1-for-2 with a RBI and two sacrifices, while sophomore Kelsi Weseman and junior Christy Jones had two stolen bases apiece.
After Georgia scored a run in the top of the first inning on two Tech errors, the Yellow Jackets returned the favor in the bottom of the inning as they capitalized on three Georgia errors. Yee led off with a walk and then stole second base. She was sacrificed to third base by Kuzma and then scored on an error later in the inning. Sophomore Kelsi Weseman, who was hit by a pitch, stole second base and Yee was able to score when the throw went in center field. Rush was credited with a RBI later in the inning when she reached on an error. Tech had a chance for a big inning but was unable to score any more runs after having the bases loaded and one out.
Georgia Tech added another run in the second inning to make it a 3-1 game, but once again could not muster a hit after having the bases loaded and one out. Yee led off with a double and came around to score on a RBI single by Kuzma.
Both teams had scoring chances in the third inning but came up empty. Georgia loaded the bases with one out, but Rush came back to strike out Alisa Goler on a 3-2 pitch and then retired Ashley Razey on a soft liner to Weseman at shortstop and end the threat. In the bottom of the frame, the Yellow Jackets had runners at first and second with two outs but were unable to score.
Georgia made it a 3-2 game with a run in the top of the fifth inning. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with one out again and Razey hit a sac fly to drive in the second run. It could have been worse for Rush, but Yee snagged Brianna Hesson’s sinking line drive up the middle for the final out of the frame.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Yellow Jackets added an insurance run against new Georgia pitcher Alison Owen. Junior Christy Jones led off with a single through the left side, stole second base and then went to third when Kuzma delivered another sacrifice. Yee, who was hit by a pitch, also moved into scoring position. Weseman drove in Jones with the fourth Tech run on a RBI ground out. Owens prevented any further damage by getting Rush to fly out to center with the bases loaded.
The Bulldogs did not go down without a fight and took the lead back for the first time since the first inning with three runs in the top of the seventh. With two on and one out, Razey crushed a 0-1 Rush pitch out to dead center field for her 10th home run of the year giving Georgia a 5-4 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Yellow Jackets were retired in order by Owens as she preserved the UGA win and improved to 6-0 on the year. She allowed one run on a hit and a walk. McCloud got a no decision as she gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits. She walked three.
Georgia Tech continues its 12-game homestand this weekend, April 10-11, when Virginia visits Mewborn Field for a first-place showdown. The Cavaliers are a half-game behind the Yellow Jackets in the ACC standings heading into play this weekend. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. and then the series finale is Sunday at 1 p.m. Live video, audio and stats will be available at www.RamblinWreck.com.
Saturday will mark the annual “Strikeout For The Cure Day” as we raise money for breast cancer research. Fans can make either flat donations or pledge an amount for every strikeout a Tech pitcher records. 100 percent of the proceeds will go directly to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. There will be a table set up inside the gates of Mewborn Field to make donations. Fans will receive special pink shakers when they enter the park and pink merchandise will be sold on the concourse. In addition, the Tech team will be wearing special pink uniform accessories.
