Feb. 16, 2014
Box Score GT Photo Gallery – Bowling Green
THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech softball team defeated Bowling Green, 3-0, and UT-Martin, 8-5, Sunday on the final day of the Panther Invite at Mewborn Field. The Jackets improved to 6-1 on the season, while the Falcons fell to 1-6 and the Skyhawks fell to 3-4-1.
On the day, junior Chelsie Thomas went 4-for-6 (.667) with two runs and two RBI to lead Georgia Tech. Hayley Downs, Karly Fullem and Ashley Thomas each added a pair of hits, and Ashley Thomas scored three runs.
Junior pitcher Kylie Kleinschmidt fanned a career-high 12 batters in game one for her second complete-game shutout of the season and her career.
“Kylie did a great job for us,” head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “She set the tone from the beginning of the game. She’s making the adjustments in between innings with Coach [Charlotte] Morgan. She’s going out there and getting better every game for us.”
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Game 1: Georgia Tech 3, Bowling Green 0
Kleinschmidt came out strong against the Falcons, striking out eight of the first 11 batters. The Lilburn, Ga., native struck out every batter in the starting lineup at least once.
The Jackets scored in the second stanza as Karly Fullem led off with a double and scored on a single courtesy of Chelsie Thomas.
Two Falcon errors in the fifth inning allowed Colleen Darragh to reach base and eventually score, and Chelsie Thomas came in clutch again in the sixth with an RBI single to score Maddie Lionberger.
Bowling Green had a chance to get on the board in the third inning with the bases loaded and two outs, and Katie Yoho at the plate. With the count full, Kleinschmidt took matters into her own hands and struck Yoho out looking to end the threat.
Kleinschmidt (4-0) surrendered four hits, no runs and walked five.
Bowling Green’s Braiden Dillow (1-2) suffered the loss, pitching 3.1 innings with one run on three hits and two walks.
Game 2: Georgia Tech 8, UT-Martin 5
The Jackets jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Ashley Thomas and Hayley Downs laid down back-to-back singles, and Katie Johnsky walked to load the bases with no outs.
Fullem stepped in the batter’s box and lined one right back to pitcher Elizabeth Wiegand, who made the out and tried to catch Ashley Thomas at third, but the throw to third missed the target, allowing Ashley Thomas to score.
The Skyhawks used three pitchers in the loss. The UT-Martin pitching struggles combined with Georgia Tech’s patience at the plate equated to nine walks, four of which were in the fourth inning, allowing the Jackets to score five runs and go up 6-3 on the Skyhawks.
Ashley Thomas went 2-for-3 with three runs and an RBI in game two. She crossed the plate for the third time in the sixth inning thanks to a single to center from Johnsky.
The Jackets tacked on their final run in the seventh inning. Chelsie Thomas walked, stole second and gained third on a UT-Martin error. She scored on a single through the left side from pinch hitter Morgan Taylor.
Freshman Kanani Cabrales (2-1) earned the win in a complete-game effort with five runs on seven hits and five strikeouts.
Autumn Glenn (0-1) took her first loss of the season, letting the go-ahead run score in a 0.1 effort with a hit and two walks.
