Feb. 24, 2007
COLUMBUS, Ga. – Florida’s Stacey Nelson (9-1) tossed a complete game, striking out seven, and the Gators (14-4) took advantage of five walks and four hits-batsmen to defeat Georgia Tech (11-2), 5-1, on Saturday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.
Junior Whitney Humphreys (5-1) took the loss, lasting just 2.0 innings, surrendering one hit, but allowed three walks, two hit batters and three earned runs. Senior Sarah Wood came in relief and worked 5.0 innings, scattering six hits, giving up two earned runs and struck out seven.
Sophomore Whitney Haller extended her hitting streak to 10 games, going 1-for-2, with a walk and double. Senior Caitlin Lever drove in Tech’s only run and went 1-for-3 for the Jackets.
The Yellow Jackets continued to jump on teams early, this time they were held to just one run in the bottom of the first inning as Lever singled to left-center field to plate junior Aileen Morales who reached on a leadoff walk and stole second base.
The Gators loaded the bases in the top of the second inning on two walks and a single and Brooke Johnson tied the game on a sacrifice fly to center field as the Jackets and Gators were knotted at 1-1.
Humphreys was removed from the circle in the top of the third inning after walking her second batter of the game and hitting her third to put Gators at first and second with no outs. Senior Sarah Wood entered the circle for the Yellow Jackets and walked the first batter she faced to load the bases.
UF’s Ali Gardner then struck a line drive that went off of the Tech second baseman’s glove and squirted into center field to allow two runs to score as the Jackets trailed, 3-1. Wood then retired the six with three consecutive strikeouts and end the inning.
Once again the Gators were given a run in the top of the fourth inning as Wood plunked the first batter, the fourth one of the game, surrendered a single, walked the next and threw a wild pitch as Tech trailed 4-1.
The Gators’ Francesca Enea singled through the left side to plate another run for Florida in the top of the sixth inning as the Jackets went down by four, 5-1.
The Yellow Jackets scored one run, on six hits and had no errors, while UF scored five runs, on seven hits and had no errors.
Thanks to a victory by No. 16 Baylor over Florida, the Jackets and Lady Bears finish pool play at 3-1, but the Rambling Wreck defeated BU to win the tiebreaker and advance to the Gold Championship Bracket.
No. 13 Michigan (4-0) will be the top seed, No. 2 seed Georgia Tech (3-1), No. 3 seed Virginia Tech (3-1) and No. 4 seed Tennessee Tech (3-1). Due to a tournament rule, Virginia Tech will face Michigan in game one to avoid conference match-ups in the first round of tourney. All games can be followed on www.ramblinwreck.com.
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