Feb. 11, 2017
Cal Box Score | Illinois Box Score
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The Georgia Tech softball team (0-4) dropped a doubleheader on Saturday in Puerto Rico as both No. 24 Cal and Illinois came from behind to defeat the Jackets. Tech fell 10-8 to the Bears, before falling 4-2 to the Illini.
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“I’m proud of the resilience our team showed today,” head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “We made adjustments in the circle and our pitchers pitched good enough to win. We have to be sharper on defense and advance runners when we need to. Two tough losses to two very good teams show we are good enough to compete with the top teams. The difference is not letting things snowball. I loved our fight and teamwork today.”
How It Happened
Cal 10, Georgia Tech 8
Down 1-0 in the bottom of the first, The Jackets jumped on the pitcher early with back-to-back home runs by leadoff Samantha Pierannunzi and Kelsey Chisholm.
Malea Bell singled before Cal made a pitching change. The Jackets loaded the bases with no outs for Katie Krzus, who stepped in the box and blasted a grand slam to centerfield to put the Jackets up 6-1.
Tech batted around and with Jessica Kowalewicz on second and two outs, Pierannunzi singled to score the runner and give Tech a 7-1 advantage in the first frame.
The Bears got within two, 7-5, with five runs through the second and third innings. Tech added a run in the fourth thanks to a double by Kowalewicz and an RBI-single off the bat of Pierannunzi to make it 8-5.
The Jackets only allowed one run through the next three innings, but the Bears rallied with two outs in the top of the seventh to take a 10-8 lead.
Freshman Brooke Barfield (0-2) went the distance, allowing seven earned runs with two strikeouts. Cal’s reliever Stephanie Trzcinski (1-0) earned the win and Zoe Conley earned a save.
Illinois 4, Georgia Tech 2
The Jackets struck first against the Illini thanks to a single by Kendall Chadwick and a home run from Kowalewicz in the second inning to give Tech a 2-0 lead.
Illinois cut the lead to one run with a run in the fourth and the Illini took the lead, 4-2, thanks to a three-run home run in the fifth.
Jenna Goodrich (0-1) suffered the loss and threw six innings with five strikeouts. Illinois’ Erin Walker (1-0) earned the win and Breanna Wonderly tallied the save.
Quick Hits
– In game one the Jackets hit three home runs, including a grand slam by Katie Krzus
– Pierannunzi went 3-for-3 with three RBI in game one
– Krzus went 2-for-4 with four RBI and a run in game one; and went 2-for-3 with a double in game two
– Kowalewicz scored a pair of runs and had a hit; she homered in game two
– Kendall Chadwick singled in both games
– The Jackets turned two double plays in game two
Up Next
The Jackets wrap up their trip to Puerto Rico with an 8 a.m. ET game on Sunday against North Carolina.
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