Feb. 8, 2013
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Tournament Central | Season Stats
THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech softball team (2-0) scored 36 runs on 30 hits, including six doubles, en route to a 12-0 win over Eastern Michigan (1-1) and a 24-4 run-rule victory against Butler (0-2) on Friday in the Jackets’ first two games of the season and the GT-Kennesaw State Invitational.
The 24 runs Tech scored against Butler are the most scored by an ACC team since Feb. 17, 2010 when NC State defeated North Carolina Central, 24-1. In addition, the 24 runs are the most scored by Georgia Tech since Feb. 26, 1999 when Tech defeated Delaware State 26-1 in five innings.
The Jackets have only scored 20 or more runs three other times in program history.
Sophomore Chelsie Thomas went 4-for-5 (.800) on the day with six runs, while freshman Morgan Taylor went 5-for-7 (.714) with three runs, one double and a triple.
Senior pitcher Hope Rush (1-0) picked up the win in the first game, throwing a complete game, one-hit shutout. Taylor went a perfect 4-for-4 with one run and two RBI. Junior Alysha Rudnik went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.
Thirteen of the 15 players on Tech’s roster saw action against Eastern Michigan and all but five scored at least one run.
The Jackets’ bats progressively got hot, driving in one run in the second, two in the third, three in the sixth and six in the seventh inning. The Jackets scored 12 runs on 14 hits.
Lauren Wells (0-1) took the loss for Eastern Michigan. She was replaced in the fifth inning after giving up six earned runs on 11 hits and four walks.
In the second game, Butler got on the board first with one run in the top of the first inning. The Jackets came back and scored two in the bottom of the inning.
Tech followed that performance with a 5-run second inning, a 12-run third inning and a 5-run fourth inning. In the third inning, Tech sent 15 batters to the plate before Butler could record its first out – a sacrifice fly to center by Rudnik.
Freshman Courtney Ziese went 3-for-4 with three runs, six RBI and a home run. Karly Fullem went 3-for-3 with three runs, and both Rudnik and Chelsie Thomas scored three runs apiece.
Sophomore Kylie Kleinschmidt (1-0) earned the win, allowing five hits and three earned runs with four strikeouts.
The Bulldogs used a trio of pitchers with starter Kristin Gutierrez (0-1) taking the loss after giving up 14 earned runs on 11 hits.
Georgia Tech continues action at the GT – Kennesaw State Invitational Saturday with games against Missouri State at 12 p.m. and Coastal Carolina at 2 p.m.
