March 18, 2008
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Updated Stats
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Georgia Tech Softball Team (10-20) was swept in a doubleheader by Tennessee Tech (15-15-1) Tuesday night. In game one, the Yellow Jackets cut a 5-1 deficit to a run at 5-4, but could not get any closer as they left out-hit the Golden Eagles 7-6 and left nine runners on base. In game two, TTU pitcher Sarah Street retired the last 14 batters in a row and tossed a two-hit shutout in an 8-0, five-inning win. Senior Savannah Brown led the Jackets with four hits on the day, while senior Aileen Morales had three hits and three more stolen bases and is now a perfect 24-for-24 on the season.
Game one saw Tennessee Tech score two runs in the bottom of the first inning. With a runner on first base and two outs, Stephanie Fischer took the first pitch she saw from Tech freshman pitcher Stephanie Morris over the fence in centerfield. It was Fischer’s 11th home run of the season.
The Yellow Jackets got one of the runs back in the top of the third inning. Senior Aileen Morales led off with a single into right field, the Jackets’ first hit of the game. She then stole second base, her 22nd in as many opportunities. After moving to third on a ground out by junior Blair Shimandle, Morales scored on a line drive single up the middle off the bat of senior Savannah Brown. It was career RBI number 170 for Brown, moving her within two of Anne Knobbe’s school record.
The Golden Eagles added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning. With runners at first and third with two outs, Amanda Glover ripped a two-run double into the left-centerfield gap. Morris allowed another single in the inning, but struck out Meghan Maynard with two on to keep it a 4-2 game heading to the fourth inning.
Tennessee Tech made it a 5-1 game with another run in the fourth as Katie Speiser delivered a two-out RBI single to left field.
The Yellow Jackets got three runs back in the fifth inning with a lot of help from the Tennessee Tech defense. Morales led off with a single, stole second base and then scored when freshman Christy Jones’ ground ball to shortstop was thrown away. Later in the inning, the Jackets had runners at first and second with two outs when senior Brittany Barnes hit a line drive to left field. Tennessee Tech left fielder Taylor Horseman misplayed the ball as she had it go off her glove and roll all the way to the wall. Brown and junior Whitney Haller were able to score and Barnes made it to third base. Maddie Schmissrauter was able to strike out freshman Jessica Weaver, but the Jackets were down just a run heading to the bottom of the fifth inning.
Morris issued a leadoff walk to Fischer in the fifth, her second straight four-pitch walk after the first-inning home run, but did not allow her to score. The Jackets came up for their at bat in the top of the sixth inning looking for at least one run to tie the game.
Morales tried to get a two-out rally going in the top of the sixth as she roped a single up the middle, her third hit of the game. With Jones at the plate, Morales stole second base, her third theft of the game and 24th of the season in as many opportunities, and then went to third base on a wild pitch. Schmissrauter was able to strike Jones out, however, and force the Jackets to strand the tying run at third base for the second straight inning.
Morris worked around a two-out walk in the bottom of the sixth inning so the Yellow Jackets came up for their last chance in the seventh. The Yellow Jackets did not go quietly as Shimandle led off with a fly ball to centerfield that was caught at the warning track. Back-to-back singles, however, by Brown and Haller gave the Jackets runners at first and second with one out, but Maddie Schmissrauter was able to record the final two outs of the game for the win.
Morris (2-6) took the loss as she was charged with five earned runs on six hits. She walked five and struck out seven.
In game two, The Yellow Jackets stranded two more base runners in the top of the first inning as Shimandle and Brown each singled with one out, but Tennessee Tech starting pitcher Sarah Street was able to escape the jam. Then in the bottom of the first inning, Fischer led off with her second home run of the day and 12th of the season. Later in the inning, Amanda Glover had a RBI double making it 2-0 Golden Eagles.
The Golden Eagles made it 3-0 in the second when Fischer added a RBI double with two outs to right field after a hit batsman extended the inning. Three more runs in the third, all after there were two outs dug the Jackets in a big hole as they found themselves down 6-0. Humphreys struck out the first two batters with ease, but consecutive walks and an error loaded the bases for Kaleigh Gates. Gates turned on a 3-2 Humphreys offering and lined it into centerfield for a bases-clearing double. Humphreys ended the inning with another strikeout, bit it was now 6-0 Golden Eagles heading to the fourth inning.
After allowing the back-to-back singles in the first inning, Street had Tech’s number. She retired 11 straight batters through the fourth inning. In the bottom of the fourth, Tennessee Tech made it an 8-0 game when Katie Speiser hit a two-run home to left-centerfield.
Tech went in order again in the fifth as Street (8-11) closed out the game by retiring the final 14 Georgia Tech batters. She picked up the complete-game shutout allowing just the two singles and had three strikeouts. Humphreys (5-10) took the loss as she was charged for eight runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks. She had five strikeouts.
The Yellow Jackets’ six-day, 1,108 mile spring break trip this week continues Thursday with a doubleheader at Winthrop in Rock Hill, S.C. Tech then heads to Myrtle Beach, S.C. for a twin bill Saturday at Coastal Carolina. Game one both days is set for 2:00 p.m. Live video is available for both series’ through BigSouthSports.com for a fee, while live stats is also available via Gametracker at www.ramblinwreck.com.
