April 16, 2014
THE FLATS – The No. 15 Georgia softball team defeated Georgia Tech, 15-1, in five innings Wednesday night to sweep the season series. The Bulldogs improved to 36-8 on the season and the Jackets fell to 21-18 overall.
The Bulldogs scored six runs in the first inning and never looked back, plating at least one run in every inning. Georgia scored 15 runs on 12 hits, including three home runs, in the victory.
Georgia Tech’s lone run came in the bottom of the fifth. Ashley Thomas led off and drew a hit by pitch to reach first. A groundout from Hayley Downs moved Ashley Thomas ahead 60 feet.
Alysha Rudnik tallied her 40th RBI on the season after drilling a pitch up the middle to score Ashley Thomas from second and put Tech on the board.
The Jackets tallied three hits in the game. Chelsie Thomas ran out a bunt single in the second and Samantha Pierannunzi extended her hitting streak to eight games with a single in the fourth.
Pitching woes continued to plague the Jackets as Tech gave up three walks and two hit batters in the opening stanza, and the staff walked seven batters for the game.
The Jackets used three pitchers with Kanani Cabrales on the hook for the loss. Cabrales (7-8) allowed six runs on two hits in 0.2 innings of work, before giving away to Kylie Kleinschmidt, who pitched the next 2.0 frames with five runs on five hits.
Ashley Clifton entered the game in the third and tossed the remaining 2.1 innings allowing four runs on five hits.
Georgia starter Chelsea Wilkinson (22-5) absorbed the win, scattering three hits and allowing one run in four innings pitched.
The Jackets resume ACC play Saturday and Sunday with a three-game series at conference newcomer Pittsburgh. Saturday’s doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. and the series finale Sunday is set for 12 p.m.
