Feb. 24, 2008
TAMPA, Fla. – A RBI double by Alison Savarese in the second inning was the only run of the game as South Florida (8-5) knocked off Georgia Tech (5-8),1-0, this afternoon in the final game of the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament. There were just four hits in the game with each team recording two. The Yellow Jackets have now been shut out five times this season, including three games by a score of 1-0.
South Florida struck first for a run in the bottom of the second inning, but it could have been a lot worse. Courtney Mosch led off with a double and after being sacrificed to third base, she came around to score on a double off the bat of Alison Savarese. Tech senior pitcher Whitney Humphreys walked Lauren Rodriguez and that proved to be the last batter she would face.
Freshman Stephanie Morris got the call in relief and walked the first batter she faced to load the bases, but got pinch hitter Hilary Wolf to hit into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double-play.
The Yellow Jackets struggled to get the bats going against USF pitcher Courtney Mosch. They had just one hit in the first four innings and did not have a runner get past second base. Two other base runners reached via a hit batsman and an error. The lone hit was a bunt single by freshman Christy Jones in the first inning.
Morris did her part as she kept the Bulls off the scoreboard, but it was still 1-0 as the game quickly moved into the sixth inning.
Mosch was pitching well for South Florida, but was taken out to begin the sixth inning. Capri Catalano came in to face the top of the Georgia Tech order, but picked right up where Mosch left off. Catalano hit junior Blair Shimandle with two outs, but struck out junior Whitney Haller to end the inning and leaving the Jackets down to their final three outs.
Morris continued her impressive relief work as she retired the Bulls in order in the sixth sending the offense back out there for one last chance to at least tie the game.
In the top of the seventh, Catalano got the first two batters quickly but then the Jackets tried to mount a two-out rally. Freshman Amanda Crow got it started with a double to right field. Senior Becky McCraw was then hit by a pitch putting two on with two outs. Senior Savannah Brown came in as a pinch hitter after leaving last night’s game against Wright State to go to the hospital for stitches after fouling a ball off her face, but struck out ending the game.
Morris got the last eight USF batters in a row out and pitched 4.2 innings of scoreless relief. She did not give up a hit, walked two and struck out four. Humphreys (1-4) took the loss as she gave up one earned run on two hits in 1.1 innings. She walked two and did not record a strikeout.
Georgia Tech will now participate in the prestigious NFCA Leadoff Classic Feb. 29-March 2 in Columbus, Ga. The Yellow Jackets will face Auburn (4:00 PM) and No. 3/4 Texas A&M (6:30 PM) on Friday, Feb. 29, Hofstra (4:00 PM) and Charlotte (6:30 PM) on Saturday, March 1 and No. 17/17 DePaul (12:30 PM) on Sunday, March 2. Live stats of every game will be available via Gametracker at www.ramblinwreck.com.
