Feb. 7, 2004
MONROE, La. – The Georgia Tech softball team squeaked by Gardner-Webb in the opening game of the Mardi Gras Classic this afternoon, 3-2, on the ULM Lady Indian Softball Complex. Tech’s Amy Hosier (Lakewood, Colo.) smacked a two out double in the seventh inning to score the winning run to give the Jackets the win. The Yellow Jackets improve to 1-0, while the Bulldogs fall to 0-1.
Tech jumped ahead of Garner-Webb 2-0 courtesy of a blast off the bat of sophomore third baseman Lauren Schlechte (St. Louis, Mo.) in the top of the second inning. The Bulldogs responded with an unearned run in the bottom half of the inning as the Jackets led 2-1 after two innings of play.
Neither team managed any offense in the next three innings as the game became a pitcher’s dual between the Jackets’ Erin Voeltz (Westlake, Calif.) and GWU’s Stacie Reichert.
Garner-Webb tallied another unearned run on Tech’s second error of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the score at two.
With two outs in the top of the seventh inning, senior outfielder Sara Wissmann (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) singled to left field to start Tech in the final inning. Wissman then stole second base to get into scoring position with two outs. Hosier came through for the Jackets with a two strike double as Tech took a one run lead into the bottom half of the seventh.
After two quick outs for GWU, the Bulldogs had consecutive singles to put runners at first and second with two outs. Voeltz recorded the third out by herself as she induced a pop out to the pitching mound as Tech defeated the Bulldogs by a 3-2 final.
Voeltz (1-0) threw all seven innings for the Jackets, allowing six hits, two runs, zero earned runs and struck out seven. Schlechte ended the game 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs to lead Tech offensively.
Georgia Tech scored three runs, on four hits and two errors, while Garner-Webb scored no runs, on six hits and two errors.
The Yellow Jackets will face Louisiana-Monroe in its second game of the Mardi Gras Classic tonight around 8 p.m. ET.
