March 2, 2008
COLUMBUS, Ga. – Simone Ashkar hit a two-out, pinch-hit two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning to lead #19/19 DePaul to a 2-1 win over Georgia Tech Sunday afternoon in the final game of the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Senior Brittany Barnes hit a solo home run in the third inning that had put Tech in front. Freshman Stephanie Morris pitched well but took the loss as she allowed six hits and no walks while striking out three.
The Jackets had the first chance to score in the second inning. Two singles and an error loaded the sacks with two outs for junior Blair Shimandle, but DePaul pitcher Lauren Frankiewicz got a big strike out to end the inning.
Tech took a 1- lead in the third, however, when senior Brittany Barnes blasted a two-out solo home run to left field. For Barnes, it was her second round-tripper in as many games and third of the season.
Tech freshman pitcher Stephanie Morris allowed at least one DePaul base runner in each of the first four innings, but did not allow any runs. She was throwing strikes and inducing a lot of Blue Demon pop-ups. Te game quickly moved to the fifth inning and the Yellow Jackets hanging onto the 1-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the fifth, DePaul got to Morris. With two outs pinch hitter Simone Ashkar came up with runners second and third with two outs. Morris quickly got ahead 0-2, but Ashkar battled back to a full count and then dumped a two-run single into centerfield. Morris got a strikeout to get out of the inning, but now the Yellow Jackets found themselves down 2-1 heading to the sixth inning.
Lindsey Dean entered the game in the fifth inning and made easy work of the Yellow Jackets. She needed just 18 pitches to retire Tech in the fifth and sixth innings leaving the Jackets with only three outs left.
Morris got her first 1-2-3 inning in the sixth so the Jackets came up for their last at bat in the top of the seventh needing at least one run to tie.
Freshman Christy Jones led off with an infield single and was bunted to second base by senior Stephanie Butler. Dean was then able to get back to back ground though to end the inning and send Tech home with another one-run loss.
The Yellow Jackets now return home for a big week. They kick off ACC play with a three-game, mid-week series against Virginia. The home opener at Glenn Field is Tuesday, March 4 with a doubleheader slated to begin at 1:30 p.m. The two teams will wrap up their series on Wednesday, March 5 at 3:00 p.m. The Jackets will them host the Buzz Classic March 7-9 at the Twin Creeks Complex in Woodstock, Ga. Live stats for every game is available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
