March 22, 2005
DeLAND, Fla. – Senior Jessica Sallinger (15-5) tossed five shutout innings, striking out four, and junior Christine Sheridan drove in the game-winning run to lead No. 20 Georgia Tech (29-7) past Stetson University (18-11), 5-0, in six innings of play at Stetson Field on Tuesday night. The game was called in the bottom of the sixth inning due to lightning in the area.
Sallinger, a native of Kennesaw, Ga., has not allowed an earned run in 31 straight innings pitched. She finished the game with her ninth complete-game shutout of the season. Five Yellow Jackets had hits in the game for Tech.
Junior Christine Sheridan put the Jackets on the board in the top of the first inning with a RBI single to left field to plate freshman Aileen Morales who reached on a fielding error by the SU first baseman. Senior Katie Donovan reached base on a two-out error by the Hatters’ shortstop as Sheridan scored to give Tech a 2-0 lead.
After stranding four runners over the next two innings, the Jackets placed a runner on third with one out in the top of the fifth inning. Lever walked to start the inning, stole second base and advanced to third on a Sheridan ground out to first base. Lever scored on a third strike wild pitch as Wood reached first base on the strikeout to give Tech a 3-0 lead. Donovan then doubled off the right field fence to put Jackets at second and third with one out. Junior Amy Hosier then scorched a ground ball off the second baseman’s glove to score Wood and Donovan to extend the lead to five.
Wood entered the circle for the Yellow Jackets in the bottom of the sixth inning in relief of Sallinger. The game was then postponed due to lightning in the area for 30 minutes. After the 30-minute wait, the umpires decided to call the game with the Jackets leading 5-0.
Donovan finished 1-for-3, with a double. Junior Lauren Schlechte added a double for the Jackets and Hosier finished 1-for-3, with one RBI. Senior Kirin Kumar went 1-for-2.
The Yellow Jackets will return to Atlanta to face conference foe Florida State this weekend, March 26-27. The Atlantic Coast Conference games are scheduled for a Noon doubleheader on Saturday and Noon single game on Sunday at Glenn Field.
-GT SOFTBAL
