Feb. 26, 2005
COLUMBUS, Ga. – Despite a complete-game one-hitter by senior pitcher Jessica Sallinger in the opener, No. 13 Georgia Tech dropped a pair of games to South Carolina, 2-0 (10), and No. 17 Nebraska, 9-1 (5), at the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Saturday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets fall to 13-4 on the season.
Georgia Tech vs. South Carolina Jessica Sallinger threw a complete game one-hitter as #13 Georgia Tech dropped its third game in a row. South Carolina used a homerun in the bottom of the 10th inning to break-up a no-hitter and give the Gamecocks a 2-0 victory over the Yellow Jackets.
Sallinger was solid in the circle, striking out 12 throwing one intentional walk in a complete game effort. Sallinger’s dozen Ks gives her 1,118 on the season. The Kennesaw, Ga. native moved into 16th on the NCAA career strikeout list, just four behind Minnesota hurler Piper Marten (2001-04). Sallinger is just one game away from tying Radara McHugh of UNC (1998-2001) for third on the ACC’s career complete game list.
Sallinger took a no-hitter into the bottom of the tenth inning. With a runner on second base because of softball’s international tiebreaker rule, South Carolina’s McKenna Hughes drove a ball deep to left field for the game-winning walk-off homerun.
Offensively for the Jackets, Tech was only able to muster four hits on the day. Freshman Christine Sheridan led the Jackets on the offensive side of the ball, accounting for three of the Georgia Tech hits. Kirin Kumar singled to center field in the seventh inning for the only other Yellow Jacket hit.
Georgia Tech threatened several times throughout the game, but was not able to plate any runners. In the 3rd inning as Aileen Morales reached second by way of a walk and stolen base. The freshman from Columbus, who is now 11-for-11 on stolen base attempts, was stranded as the Jackets could not advance the runner.
In the fourth, Sheridan got the second of her three hits. She stole second and advanced to third on a groundout.
The Jackets got two runners on in the sixth inning. Caitlin Lever drew a base on balls and advanced to second on a Sheridan single. The pair advanced on a wild pitch, but were left stranded as Kristina Hull was called out on strikes.
In the extra frames, the Yellow Jackets could advance no further than third base before being stranded. For the day, Tech left eight runners on base.
Georgia Tech vs. Nebraska
The Yellow Jackets could get nothing going against No. 17 Nebraska as the Cornhuskers as they fell 9-1 in five innings.
A three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning sealed the fate of the Yellow Jackets.
Tech managed just one run on six hits, while Nebraska used 10 hits to score their nine runs.
The Yellow Jackets will return to action Sunday morning 9:00 a.m. where they will play the Texas State Bobcats.
-GT SOFTBALL-
