Feb. 11, 2003
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Led by a two-hitter from junior pitcher Erin Voeltz, the No. 19 Georgia Tech softball team (3-3) defeated Chattanooga, 2-0, in the first game of a doubleheader at the Lady Mocs’ Frost Stadium. UTC (1-6) took the second game, 2-0.
Game one shaped up as a pitcher’s dual from the start, as the two teams combined for just one hit through the first four innings. Chattanooga starter Awbrey Winckler held Tech without a safety, as she retired five Jackets via strikeout through the first four frames. Voeltz was nearly as effective, allowing just one hit through this stretch.
The Jackets finally found a hit in the fifth inning, as junior center fielder Sara Wissmann roped a single up the middle for her first hit of the season. Sophomore Kirin Kumar then singled to left to give Tech two on with two out. However, Winckler forced senior Tara Neff to ground to second ending the threat.
Tech took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth on a RBI single from junior All-American shortstop Tara Knudsen. Second baseman Felicia Coursey, who led off the frame with a walk and took second on a sacrifice bunt by first baseman Katie Donovan, beat the throw home to give the Jackets a one-run advantage.
Georgia Tech added an insurance run in top of the seventh, as pinch hitter Tasha Waugh doubled down the left field line to score Wissmann from second. Wissmann reached via a walk and took second on a groundout by Kumar before coming home to give Tech a 2-0 lead.
With two runs on the board, Voeltz shut the door in the bottom of the inning, fanning the game’s final two batters. With the shutout victory, Voeltz improves to 2-0 on the season. She allowed just two hits and four walks, while striking out five. Winckler (0-4) took the loss for the Lady Mocs. She allowed two earned runs on four hits and fanned six Tech batters.
In the second game, the Lady Mocs squandered a chance for a big inning in the bottom of the first, as they loaded the bases with just one out. Tech starter Jessica Sallinger battled UTC’s Lindsey Brown deep into the count before earning a strikeout, and Kumar made an impressive running catch on a foul ball to end the frame.
Sallinger settled down after the first, fanning 10 Chattanooga batters through the game’s first five innings and allowing just one hit. The Lady Mocs’ freshman pitcher Sara Meek was also solid, holding Tech hitless until third baseman Tara Neff reached on an infield hit with two out in the fifth. The two starters limited both lineups to just a combined two infield singles through five.
Chattanooga broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth on a double by freshman catcher Jennifer Reed that scored both Melissa Ramirez and Jada Pescatore. Ramirez walked to lead off the inning, while Pescatore reached on an error in left by Kumar.
Down 2-0, the Jackets went in order in the bottom of the seventh, as Chattanooga earned its first win of the season. Meek (1-2) allowed just one hit in seven innings, while fanning five.
Sallinger falls to 1-3 with the loss, despite not allowing an earned run. She struck out 12 batters and allowed just two hits and four walks.
Tech returns to action Sunday, as the Jackets open their home slate against Georgia Southern at 1 p.m. at Glenn Field.
-GT-
