Feb. 9, 2005
STATESBORO, Ga. – In a continuous rainfall, the 20th-ranked Georgia Tech (3-0) softball team upended Georgia Southern (1-5), 6-1, behind a complete-game three-hitter by senior pitcher Jessica Sallinger (2-0) at Eagle Field on Wednesday afternoon. Sallinger fanned 11 batters on the day to become the Atlantic Coast Conference’s all-time strikeout leader (1,046).
Sallinger also moved into fourth place all-time in the ACC with 758.2 career innings pitched.
The Yellow Jackets took an early 1-0 lead as senior Katie Donovan walked with the bases loaded in the top of the first inning.
After a 15-minute rain delay, the Yellow Jackets posted a four-run fourth inning to increase their lead to five, 5-0. Freshman Aileen Morales drove in the first run with the bases loaded and junior Christine Sheridan and freshman Savannah Brown followed with singles to plate four Jackets in the inning.
GSU’s Shanita Black broke the shutout for the Eagles in the bottom of the fourth inning with a two-out double to left-center field as Tech led by four, 5-1, heading into the fifth inning.
Sophomore Kristina Hull drove in the final run of the game in the top of the seventh inning to plate Donovan who reached on a single through the left side.
Donovan finished 1-for-3, with one walk and one RBI to extend her hitting streak to 10 games, dating back to last season. Sophomore Caitlin Lever led the Jackets at the plate, going 3-for-4, with a run scored. Freshman Savannah Brown finished 1-for-3, with two runs batted in and freshman Stephanie Butler went 2-for-3.
Tech will travel to Boca Raton, Fla., for the FAU Worth Softball Tournament hosted by Florida Atlantic, Feb. 11-13. The Jackets will open up tournament play against future ACC member (2006) Boston College at 10 a.m. and No. 27 Northwestern at 2 p.m. on Friday afternoon.
-GT SOFTBALL-
