Feb. 15, 2013
Marshall Box Score | Miami (Ohio) Box Score
THE FLATS – The No. 24 Georgia Tech softball team defeated Marshall, 7-6, and Miami (Ohio), 10-8, on day one of the Georgia Tech Classic at Mewborn Field to improve to 7-0 on the season. The Thundering Herd fell to 2-5 overall and the Redhawks fell to 0-2.
On the day, senior Hope Rush went 5-for-6 (.833) with two runs, one double, two home runs and five RBI. She pitched a complete game against Marshall and earned her second save of the season vs. Miami (Ohio).
“I thought we did a pretty good job of hitting,” said head coach Sharon Perkins. “We didn’t know a whole lot about all of the pitchers so to come in and make adjustments and learn as we went, I thought we did a good job. They were playing us pretty deep so we hit some sky balls to the warning track. We hit some balls really hard and they made some good plays also.”
Game 1 – GT 7, Marshall 6
The Yellow Jackets scored two runs in the top of the first thanks to a two-run double off the bat of Rush that scored Chelsie Thomas and Alysha Rudnik. Marshall was able to counter as the leadoff batter Kaelynn Greene scored.
In the third inning, Tech tacked on three more runs to take a 5-1 lead. C. Thomas drew a walk, stole second and was hit in thanks to a Rudnik double. Rush stepped to the plate and crushed a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall to score Rudnik.
The Yellow Jackets relinquished the lead in the bottom of the fourth as the Thundering Herd scored four runs on two hits to tie the game at five.
Freshman Courtney Ziese belted her second home run of the season in the fifth inning to give the Yellow Jackets a slight edge, 6-5. Tech added an insurance run thanks to an RBI single by Ziese in the next inning.
Marshall mustered one run in the bottom of the sixth, but the Jackets shut down the Herd in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.
Rush hit 3-for-3 with 4 RBI, a double and a home run. She also earned her fourth win of the season (4-0), allowing five earned runs on seven hits with six strikeouts in seven innings pitched.
Marshall used a trio of pitchers in the loss with Andi Williamson (2-4) taking the loss. She pitched three innings and allowed two runs on five hits with three strikeouts.
Game 2 – GT 10, Miami (Ohio) 8
The Redhawks jumped on the board first with three runs in the top of the second inning. Shanyn McIntyre hit a two-run home run, and then Brandi Hernandez drew a walk and was hit around the bases by her teammates.
Tech tied it at three in the bottom of the inning. Rush led off with her second home run of the day and fourth of the season. Morgan Taylor and Katie Johnsky both singled to reach base, and Hayley Downs’ single loaded the bases. Two-straight walks by Redhawk pitcher Jenna Modic brought in two runs.
Miami (Ohio) went ahead by one run in the top of the third, but Tech broke the game open in the bottom of the inning with six runs on five hits and one Redhawk error.
The Jackets strung together three hits – a single by Rush, a double by Karly Fullem and a single by Morgan Taylor that scored Kaitlin Kates, who pinch ran for Rush.
Katie Johnsky walked to load the bases and Ashley Thomas singled up the middle to score Fullem. An overthrown ball by the Miami (Ohio) third baseman trying to get Chelsie Thomas out at first, scored Taylor and Johnsky. Ashley Thomas and Chelsie Thomas executed a double steal, allowing Ashley Thomas to score, and finally, Chelsie Thomas was brought around on a double by Rudnik.
The Redhawks scored four additional in the game runs courtesy of two two-run homers off the bat of Kayla Ledbetter in back-to-back innings, but Tech held on for the 10-8 victory.
Kylie Kleinschmidt (3-0) earned the win, pitching 5.2 innings with seven earned runs on 11 hits. Rush pitched the last 1.1 innings to earn the save.
Modic tossed the first 2.1 innings for Miami (Ohio) with seven hits, five earned runs and two walks, before being replaced by Paige Myers (0-2) who was the pitcher of record. She threw 3.2 innings with four hits, four runs and two strikeouts.
The Jackets continue action at the Georgia Tech Classic Saturday with games at 1 p.m. vs. Indiana and 3:30 p.m. vs. Miami (Ohio).
