March 19, 2004
MARIETTA, Ga. – The 21st-ranked Yellow Jackets smashed three home runs in the first three innings to jump out in front of Ohio 7-0 and held on to defeat the Bobcats 7-3 at the Buzz Classic tonight. Senior Soraya Reddick and sophomores Amy Hosier and Lauren Schlechte each homered for the Jackets. Tech improves to 26-5, while Ohio falls to 4-12.
The Rambling Wreck began the game with a bang as senior Soraya Reddick and sophomore Amy Hosier unleashed back-to-back home runs to put Tech on top 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning with no outs. Hoiser left the yard for the first time in her career. Senior Tara Knudsen followed with a walk and Ohio made a pitching change as Natalie Armstrong entered the game for the Bobcats. After a ground out, senior Tasha Waugh singled through the right side and Knudsen advanced to third base. Knudsen then stole home on the throw down to second base as the Bobcats tried to cut it off and get the runner unsuccessfully. Ohio tallied the final out of the first inning on a force out at second base as Tech led 3-0.
The home run ball struck again for Tech in the third inning as sophomore Lauren Schlechte tattooed a three-run homer over the center field fence to increase the Jackets’ lead to six, 6-0.
In the fourth inning, the Jackets’ Reddick and Hosier had consecutive singles with one out to give Tech runners at first and third with one out. Knudsen drove in Reddick on a fielder’s choice as the Yellow Jackets took a 7-0 lead.
Freshman Sarah Wood entered the circle for the Jackets in the top of the fifth inning. Ohio’s Georgia Villard homered off Wood for a two-run shot to put the Bobcats on the board as Tech led 7-2 after five.
Ohio put another run on the board in the sixth inning as Jennifer Tesivich connected on a home run with two outs as the Bobcats crawled within four, 7-3.
Junior Jessica Sallinger threw five innings, giving up one hit and struck out seven to improve to 15-3. Wood threw the final three innings, allowing four hits, three runs and struck out two in her first collegiate save.
Reddick, Hosier, Waugh and junior Kirin Kumar each had two hits to pace the Tech offense.
The Rambling Wreck scored seven runs, on nine hits and had no errors, while Ohio tallied three runs, on five hits and had one error.
Georgia Tech (2-0) will wrap up pool play against Nicholls State (1-0) and Western Kentucky (1-1) on Saturday, March 20, at 1 and 3 p.m. respectively. A single-elimination bracket will start at 8 p.m. on Saturday evening and continue through Sunday, with the championship game scheduled for 1 p.m. The Tech games will not be produced over livestats this weekend.
Pool 1 Results
Western Kentucky d. Austin Peay, 10-0 (5)
Nicholls State d. Western Kentucky, 2-0
Georgia Tech d. Austin Peay, 3-1
Georgia Tech d. Ohio, 7-3
For tournament information and results, click here:
