April 17, 2008
ATLANTA – Winners in six out of its last seven games, the Georgia Tech Softball Team (23-27, 4-10 ACC) opens up an eight-game homestand that will close out the regular season this weekend against Boston College (21-24, 2-10). The Yellow Jackets and the Atlanta Chapter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation have partnered together in an effort to raise awareness and funds to help fight the cause of breast cancer. Tech will host the inaugural “Strikeout for the Cure” during both games of Saturday’s 1:00 p.m. doubleheader against Boston College at Glenn Field. The series concludes with a single game on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Fans coming to Saturday’s games will receive a softball writing pen while supplies last.
“This is going to be a very special weekend,” head coach Sharon Perkins said. “I hope as many fans as possible can come out and support a great cause while watching some great softball games. So many people have either been affected or know someone that has been affected so it is important that we continue to create awareness and raise funds for the necessary research. I hope everyone can come out and support a great cause and realize that even the smallest of donations will go a long way to helping out.”
Parents, fans, businesses and coworkers may pledge amounts for every strikeout the Yellow Jackets pitching staff records against Boston College, or they can make flat donations to the cause. Over the last two years, Georgia Tech has raised over $14,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation through the Yellow Jacket volleyball team’s Dig for the Cure Efforts and now every woman’s program is participating.
Pledges and donations for “Strikeout for the Cure” can be made by contacting Georgia Tech Athletics’ assistant director of communications Seth Gerard (404-894-5445, sgerard@athletics.gatech.edu).
Every Georgia Tech player and coach will have pink uniform accessories on Saturday and pink breast cancer awareness shirts will be sold at Glenn Field for $15 with all proceeds going directly to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Fans planning on attending the Atlantic Coast Conference doubleheader are also encouraged to show their support and wear pink.
“Boston College is a good team and we will need to be on top of our game,” added Perkins. “I am so proud of how this team battled through so much adversity and is now reaping the benefits. We need to continue this momentum and playing well on both sides of the ball.”
The Yellow Jackets are 11-0 all-time against Boston College, including a 9-0 mark since they joined the ACC. Last year, Tech swept the three-game series up in the Bay State and then shut out the Eagles 4-0 in the ACC Tournament, behind a four-hitter by now senior pitcher Whitney Humphreys.
Junior Whitney Haller was on base seven times going 6-for-7 with three doubles, six RBI, a home run and a walk on Wednesday as Georgia Tech won a pair of games at Georgia Southern. The home run was the 46th of Haller’s career moving her into a tie with Tara Knudsen for tops in the all-time Georgia Tech record books.
The Yellow Jackets pounded out 24 hits on the afternoon and senior pitcher Whitney Humphreys (13-13) won both games as she tossed a six-hit shutout in game one and then picked up a win in the night cap pitching 5.2 innings of relief and giving up just one earned run. She had 13 strikeouts on the day and has now won each of her last five starts. At the top of the order, senior Aileen Morales was 4-for-7 with five runs scored, two home runs, a double, three RBI and two walks while freshman Christy Jones went 3-for-8 with three runs scored and three stolen bases. Junior Blair Shimandle was 5-for-8 on the afternoon with three RBI and a pair of stolen bases.
