March 6, 2004
TUCSON, Ariz. – The second-ranked Wildcats got a two-run home run by Wendy Allen in the bottom of the first inning and a complete-game shutout in the circle as No. 24 Georgia Tech (17-5) fell to No. 2 Arizona (24-0), 2-0, in the Hillenbrand Invitational at Hillenbrand Stadium. Junior Jessica Sallinger threw a five-hitter, allowing two earned runs and struck out 10 Wildcat hitters to fall to 10-3 on the season.
Senior Soraya Reddick led off the top of the first inning with a line drive off the pitcher’s glove for a base hit. Reddick advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt and was thrown out at third base on a strikeout in the dirt as Tech was held off the scoreboard in the first.
Arizona’s Caitlin Lowe led off the bottom of the first with a double down the left field line. Lowe moved over to third base on a passed ball. Tech’s Jessica Sallinger tallied her first strikeout of the game for the first out, but opposing pitcher Wendy Allen delivered a two-run homer on a full count to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. Sallinger sat down the next two ‘Cat batters with strikeouts to end the first.
Lowe reached base with one out in the third inning, as she was hit-by-a-pitch. She then stole second base and moved over to third base on a ground out to the pitcher with Allen coming to bat. This time, Sallinger got the better of Allen with a big strikeout to keep the Yellow Jacket deficit at two runs, 2-0.
Freshman Kristina Hull doubled to right center field with two outs to give Tech a threat in the fifth inning. Senior Sara Wissmann then hit a sharp ground ball to the shortstop and was thrown out a first base as the Jackets remained down by two.
Lowe reached safely for the third time in the game in the fifth with a walk. She then stole second base for the second time in the game. The next Wildcat hitter drew a walk and then Sallinger induced a ground out to end the threat and advance the game to the sixth inning.
Arizona’s Shelly Schultz doubled off the center field fence with one out to put another runner in scoring position for the ‘Cats in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kristie Fox hit a high fly ball down the right field line, which dropped between two Tech players to load the bases with one out. Sallinger tallied a pop out in foul territory for the second out and struck out the third as the game moved the seventh inning with Arizona on top, 2-0.
Allen (5-0) retired the Yellow Jackets in order in the seventh inning to end the game with a two-hitter. Reddick and Hull picked up the hits for the Jackets.
Georgia Tech will face Northern Iowa later tonight around 10 p.m. ET. All the Tech games can be followed on GameTracker on www.ramblinwreck.com.
