April 12, 2002
ATLANTA – With a 2-0 victory over Chattanooga (26-12) in the second game of a doubleheader, the Georgia Tech softball team (39-11, 6-0 ACC) set a school record for wins in a season with 39 Wednesday at Glenn Field. Tech won the first game, 5-1, to equal the former mark set in 1991.
Freshman pitcher Jessica Sallinger also etched her name in the Jackets’ record book, as she earned her 18th win of the season, establishing a new single-season mark. As usual, Sallinger (18-5) was solid, scattering five hits and three walks over seven innings. She also fanned seven.
Tech got on the board first in game two on a bases-loaded single by center fielder Sara Wissmann, which scored right fielder Soraya Reddick from third. Catcher Lindsay Wood led off the inning with a single, followed by a single by Reddick and a walk to designated player Mimi Utt, which loaded the bases.
Knudsen added to the lead with a deep solo homer over the scoreboard in left center in the bottom of the third. The shot, which gave Tech a 2-0 lead, was Knudsen’s 13th of the year, good for second on the Jackets’ single-season list.
Chattanooga’s Beth Alexander pitched well, yielding just four hits and two earned runs, but took the loss to fall to 16-5.
In game one, the Lady Mocs took a 1-0 lead in the second, as shortstop Jill Crawford sent her seventh home run of the season over the left field wall.
The one-run lead stood until Tech batted around in the fourth, taking a 4-1 lead. Knudsen and Reddick each tallied run-scoring doubles, while left fielder Kirin Kumar had a RBI single. Second baseman Felicia Coursey drew a bases loaded walk to drive in the final run of the frame.
The Jackets extended the lead to 5-1 on a run-scoring double by Knudsen in the sixth. Coursey came home, giving Tech a four-run advantage. She reentered to run for Utt, who reached on a pinch-hit single.
That cushion was more than enough for starter Erin Voeltz, now 14-4 with the victory. She allowed just one run on three hits and a walk. Voeltz has now won her last eight decisions.
Knudsen went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in to lead the offense. Reddick also had a pair of hits.
Tech returns to action Saturday when it guns for a perfect ACC regular season slate at Florida State. The Jackets and Seminoles will open a doubleheader at 1 p.m.
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