Feb. 11, 2011
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Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Updated Stats
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CLERMONT, Fla. – Freshman Alysha Rudnik went 5-for-7 in her collegiate debut and senior Kristine Priebe had three RBI as the No. 18/17 Georgia Tech Softball team (2-0) began the season with a pair of wins in Friday’s first day of action at Dot Richardson’s National Collegiate Softball Invitational. The Yellow Jackets beat Florida Atlantic (0-2) 3-2 and Chattanooga 6-1 (1-1) to begin the 2011 season. Eight of Tech’s nine runs on the day came with two outs.
Sophomore Hope Rush (1-0) picked up a complete game win in game one as she allowed two earned runs on five hits and three walks. She struck out six. In the night cap, senior Kristin Adkins (1-0) recorded the win as she gave up an unearned run on two hits and one walk. Adkins struck out eight in six innings while freshman Lindsey Anderson pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
In game one against Florida Atlantic all five runs by the two teams combined were scored in the first two and a half innings. The Jackets struck first in the top of the first inning as Priebe came to bat with runners at second and third and one out after junior Kelsi Weseman walked and Rudnik doubled. Priebe soon made it 1-0 with a sacrifice fly.
The Owls went up 2-1 on a two-run single by Rose Gressley in the bottom of the first inning but Tech took the lead for good in the top of the third inning on back to back home runs by Rudnik and Priebe.
Rush made that stand up as she allowed just three base runners after the third inning and Georgia Tech went on for the win.
Game two began as a pitcher’s duel between Adkins and UTC’s Kandice Irwin. It was a scoreless game until the fourth inning when the Jackets broke out for three runs, all on one swing of the bat. With one out, Weseman doubled but was thrown out at home on a single off the bat of Rush. Rush took second on the play and then sophomore pinch runner went to third base on a single by junior Kate Kuzma. With two on and two outs, junior Danielle Dike launched a 2-2 pitch over the fence in dead center giving the Yellow Jackets a 3-0 lead.
That was more than enough run support for Adkins as she cruised through the first six innings before yielding to Anderson. Adkins did not allow a hit until the fourth and gave up just two singles for the game.
Tech added solo runs in each of the final three innings to go on to the 6-1 win. A RBI double by Priebe and home run by Weseman as well as a successful squeeze bunt off the bat of junior Shannon Bear accounted for the final three runs.
The Yellow Jackets continue play at the National Training Center through Sunday as they will face Fordham and Chattanooga on Saturday at 4 and 6:30 p.m., respectively. Tech then closes out the weekend with another game against the Rams Sunday at 11 a.m. Live audio and stats are available for every Georgia Tech Softball game this season at RamblinWreck.com. Both Fordham games will also be broadcast on WREK, 91.1 FM in Atlanta.
Follow Georgia Tech Softball all season at twitter.com/GaTechSoftball and on Facebook for the most complete information.
