March 9, 2007
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Junior Whitney Humphreys (10-1) tossed her fourth complete-game shutout, allowing three hits and struck out seven and senior Caitlin Lever went 4-for-8, with a triple and seven runs batted in, to lead No. 19 Georgia Tech (24-3) to wins over Massachusetts (5-7-1), 5-1, and Tennessee Tech (18-9), 6-0, on Friday at the USF adidas Invitational.
Sophomore Jennifer Yee singled with two outs and a runner on second base in the seventh inning to drive in the game-winning run for the Yellow Jackets against UMass. She finished the game 2-for-4, with one RBI.
Junior Stephanie Butler and sophomore Blair Shimandle each went 2-for-3 in the second game, while Yee went 1-for-2, with a walk and one RBI.
Sophomore Tiffany Johnson (9-2) went the distance in the opening game versus UMass, scattering six hits and allowing one run, no earned runs and struck out six.
In the opener versus UMass, the Jackets broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third inning as Tech manufactured a run. Junior Aileen Morales had a leadoff walk and then stole second base. Yee then singled to left field to put runners at the corners. After a strikeout, Lever drove in Morales as the Yellow Jackets led 1-0.
The Minutewomen responded with a tying run in the bottom of the fourth inning as the Tech center fielder dropped a fly ball to allow a runner to score from third as the game advanced to the fifth inning tied at 1-1.
With two outs in the top of the seventh inning, the Jackets posted four consecutive hits as Yee, sophomore Whitney Haller, Lever and junior Savannah Brown each drove in runs as Tech reclaimed the lead, 5-1.
Johnson shut down the Minutewomen in the bottom half of the seventh to give the Jackets a four-run victory.
Tech scored five runs, on nine hits and had two errors, while UMass scored one run, on six hits and had two errors.
Against TTU, the Rambling Wreck finally broke up the pitcher’s duel with four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Shimandle, Butler and Morales started with three straight singles and Yee walked to earn a RBI. Lever then tripled down the right field line to plate the other three as the Yellow Jackets led 4-0.
Tech would add two insurance runs in the seventh inning as Lever singled up the middle to increase Tech’s lead to six, 6-0. Humphreys then retired the side in order to record her fourth shutout of the season.
Tech scored six runs, on nine hits and had one error, while the Golden Eagles had no runs, on three hits and had no errors.
The Yellow Jackets will wrap up pool play against Illinois-Chicago on Saturday at 11 a.m. With the victories over UMass and Tennessee Tech, the Jackets will advance to Gold Bracket play on Saturday, regardless of the outcome with UIC tomorrow. All Tech games can be followed on www.ramblinwreck.com.
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