Feb. 27, 2010
COLUMBUS, Ga. – The No. 11/8 Georgia Tech Softball team (11-2) hit five home runs en route to an 11-2, five-inning win over Arkansas (7-5) Saturday morning at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Redshirt senior Jen Yee went 3-for-3 with a pair of two-run home runs and extended her hitting streak to 13 games.
It was Yee’s first multi-home run game in a Yellow Jacket uniform and she now leads the team with eight round-trippers on the season. Sophomore Kelsi Weseman had a three-run home run and went 2-for-3 with two runs scored from the leadoff spot. Junior Kristen Adkins and sophomore Kate Kuzma also had two-run home runs for the Jackets who have hit 30 as a team in 13 games. Junior Kristine Priebe saw her career-high six-game hitting streak come to an end but she did walk twice and score a pair of runs.
Adkins (3-0) won her second game in as many days as she allowed one earned run (two total) on five hits and two walks. She struck out five. Hope McLemore (4-2) took the loss for the Razorbacks as she lasted just a third of an inning and gave up two runs on three hits. Only five of Georgia Tech’s runs were earned.
The Yellow Jackets got going right away in the first inning as Weseman singled and then Yee hit her first of two home runs, a line drive over the fence in right field. Miranda Dixon came into the game in relief of McLemore with runners at the corner and one out, but was able to get out of the inning.
In the second, the Yellow Jackets struck again as Yee hit another two-run home run. The top of the third inning saw a highlight reel catch by junior Christy Jones in center field. Jessica Waddle hit a shot to left-center field that would have been a home run, but Jones raced over and hauled in the ball as she crashed into the wall in a full-out dive.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Yellow Jackets busted the game wide open. A two-run home run by Kuzma and a three-run shot off the bat of Weseman gave the Yellow Jackets a commanding 9-0 lead.
A clean single leading off the inning was the first hit allowed by Adkins and broke up a string of nine in a row she had retired. Brittany Griffiths, who was responsible for the hit, came around to score an unearned run but Adkins hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it an 11-1 game and the Jackets went on to win 11-2.
The 2010 NFCA Leadoff Classic continues through Sunday at the South Commons Complex and Stadium in Columbus, site of the 1996 Olympic Games. The Yellow Jackets still have games coming up against No. 18/20 Louisiana tonight at 6:30 p.m. and then Sunday at 10 a.m. vs. Iowa. Live audio and stats for every game is available at www.RamblinWreck.com.
