March 19, 2017
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball (9-18, 3-6 ACC) rallied late in the game to force extra innings, but it was Syracuse (17-9, 3-3) that prevailed with a two-run eighth inning to defeat the Yellow Jackets, 7-5, in the series finale on Sunday.
Quote
“We’ve got to finish,” head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “We had every opportunity to win that game and we didn’t finish. That’s the bottom line. We never gave up, but in the middle of the season we have to finish.”
How It Happened
After Syracuse took a 1-0 lead in the opening frame, Georgia Tech countered thanks to a leadoff home run off the bat of Samantha Pierannunzi for her team-leading seventh home run of the season.
The Jackets tacked on another run in the second to make it 2-1. Draven Sonnon singled and stole second, and Karissa Arnold’s single to right brought Sonnon home.
The Orange scored four runs through the third, fourth and fifth innings to take a 5-2 lead, but Jessica Kowalewicz quickly closed the gap with a two-run home run in the fifth to make it 5-4. The long ball marks the fifth on the season for the senior.
Down by one in the sixth, Tech rallied to tie it 5-5 with a walk from Sonnon and an RBI-double to deep center from Kaylee Ellebracht to score Sonnon from first.
Tech had the winning run on third in the bottom of the seventh after Pierannunzi smacked a leadoff double and moved to third on a single from Katie Krzus, but the Jackets couldn’t capitalize.
Syracuse put together a two-run eighth inning and Kelsey Chisholm’s single in the bottom of the eighth wasn’t enough to spark another rally for Tech as the Orange closed the door.
Relief pitcher Jenna Goodrich (4-4) suffered the loss, throwing six innings with five runs on seven hits. Syracuse’s relief hurler Sydney O’Hara (5-2) earned the win after pitching 3.2 innings with one run on four hits.
Quick Hits
– With two home runs, the game marked the eighth game this season that Tech had at least two round-trippers.
– Pierannunzi led Tech with two hits.
– Sonnon and Pierannunzi each scored a pair of runs.
Up Next
The Jackets hit the road for the first time in nine games to play a doubleheader at North Florida on Wednesday, March 22. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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