Feb. 11, 2012
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Georgia Tech softball team put together a five run second inning and held off a late surge by Cal Poly to improve to 3-0 on the season with a 8-5 victory over the Mustangs. The win signified Tech’s first ever over Cal Poly (0-3).
Alysha Rudnik’s success continued into this game for Georgia Tech (3-0). The sophomore accounted for three of Tech’s eight hits going 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Rudnik was the first Tech runner to touch home plate on the day.
Lindsey Anderson picked up her second win on the season in as many starts. The sophomore had a no-hitter going after four innings before being replaced on the mound by newcomer Kylie Kleinschmidt once Tech took an 8-0 lead. Kleinschmidt let up three runs, prompting the return of Anderson who finished the game pitching seven full innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs and struck out three.
The Yellow Jackets started things off in the second inning with a single to right by Rudnik who moved over to second on a wild pitch. Hope Rush followed things with a single to center, being replaced on the base paths by Kelly Delashmit, who promptly stole second. After Shannon Bear reached after being hit by a pitch to load the bases, Danielle Dike stepped in as a pinch hitter and came up big, doubling to left centerfield scoring the first two runs of the game for Tech.
Chelsie Thomas returned to the game in place of Dike and just a batter later was brought home on a three run homer to left field by Ashley Thomas, the first home run of her career, to give Tech a 5-0 lead.
The Jackets kept things going in the third putting another couple of runs on the board as Kelsi Weseman tallied what ended up being the game winner after Tech played a little small ball. Rudnik scored her second run of the day to give the Jackets a 7-0 lead after three innings.
Hayley Downs was able to help add to the lead in the fourth inning. After singling to right field, Downs stole second, moved up to third on a fly out to right by Weseman and scored on a single to center by Rudnik to boost the lead to 8-0.
But, Cal Poly started their comeback in the fifth threatened by the thought of being run ruled for the third time in as many games putting up three runs on the board to keep the game going. The Mustangs added another couple of runs in the sixth inning, but that would be all as Anderson squelched the threat and pitched the Jackets to their third victory of the year.
Tech is right back in action with a game against San Diego State University on Saturday night.
