April 26, 2003
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Junior right fielder Soraya Reddick had a pair of run-scoring singles, and sophomore pitcher Jessica Sallinger tossed a four-hitter to lead the Georgia Tech softball team (34-19, 3-2 ACC) to 2-1 win over 17th-ranked Alabama (40-17, 21-6 SEC) in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday. The Tide took the first game, 3-2.
The victory is the Jackets first over a nationally-ranked team this season after four one-run losses to top-25 opponents.
Reddick’s hits in the fifth and sixth innings proved to be enough for Sallinger, who improved to 19-12 with the win. She went seven innings and allowed just one run on four hits and four walks. The ACC leader in strikeouts, Sallinger fanned seven Tide batters.
Third baseman Staci Ramsey gave Bama a 1-0 lead in the third inning of game two with a run-scoring double to left field. The hit plated right fielder Ashley Courtney, who also doubled.
Tech tied the score in the top of the fourth on the first RBI single from Reddick. First baseman Katie Donovan, who reached on her second single of the game, came home on the play, knotting the score at one. The Jackets left the bases loaded in the inning, squandering a chance to take the lead. Tech also had runners thrown out at the plate in both the first and fourth innings.
The Jackets grabbed the lead in top of the fifth, when Reddick came through with her second run-scoring single. Second baseman Felicia Coursey started the inning with a double down the right field line that chased Tide starter Jennifer Wright from the game. She then took third on a bloop single by third baseman Tara Neff. Shortstop Tara Knudsen was intentionally walked to load the bases before Reddick put Tech up, 2-1. Alabama reliever Erin Wright fanned the final two batters of the inning to leave the bases full for the second consecutive inning.
Donovan was 3-for-4, and Reddick went 2-for-3 to pace a nine-hit attack by the Tech offense.
Alabama’s Erin Wright was effective in relief, allowing no runs on four hits and one walk over the final three innings of game two. Jennifer Wright went four innings and allowed two runs on five hits and three walks.
In game one, the Tide jumped out to 1-0 lead in its half of the first on a run-scoring double to left center from first baseman Jackie McClain. The base hit scored center fielder Jackie Williams, who led off the frame with a single.
McClain struck again in the bottom of the third with a solo home run to right, her seventh of the season. Bama added another run in the inning on a triple to right field by Ramsey. The base hit plated catcher Lacy Prejean, who singled, and increased the Tide lead to 3-0.
Reddick reached on a bunt single in the fifth for the Jackets’ first hit off Alabama starter Stephanie VanBrakle. The base hit was Tech’s first in 16 innings dating back to the second game of Monday’s doubleheader at Georgia Southern.
Knudsen got Tech back in the game in the sixth with a two-run homer to right center, her team-best 12th of the season. The blast scored Neff, who singled to start the scoring rally, and cut the Alabama lead to 3-2.
Tech had the tying run on first in the seventh but left fielder Kirin Kumar was tagged out in a rundown to end the game.
Yellow Jacket starter Erin Voeltz (12-5) went three innings and allowed three runs on six hits and two walks en route to the loss. Senior Tiffany Goodman entered to open the fourth and closed out the game with three solid innings of relief. She allowed no runs on just two hits and one walk.
VanBrakle (14-4) earned the win. She went seven innings and allowed two runs on three hits and three walks. Ramsey and McClain, drove in all three runs, each had two hits.
Tech closes out the regular season next weekend when Auburn visits May 2 for a 4 p.m. single game, and 13th-ranked Florida State comes to Glenn Field for a May 4 doubleheader at 1 p.m. Yellow Jacket seniors Felicia Coursey, Tiffany Goodman, Tara Neff and Lindsay Wood will be honored prior to the meeting with the Seminoles.
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