Box Score vs. Stetson
Box Score vs. Coastal Carolina
Marietta, Ga. – The Georgia Tech softball team was unable to find offense when it needed it and dropped its final two games of the Buzz Classic at the Al Bishop Softball Complex in Marietta, Ga.
In the first game of the day, the Yellow Jackets (16-13) were unable to capitalize on a bases-loaded opportunity with no outs in the top of the eighth inning, and fell to Stetson (15-15) 2-1 in eight innings. In game two, Tech fell behind early to Coastal Carolina (7-10) and was unable to recover before falling 7-3.
After the two starting pitchers held the opposition scoreless through seven innings, the international tiebreaker was used to decide the final outcome. Georgia Tech had the first shot in the top of the eighth inning and took a 1-0 lead as Jamie Frost sent a double to right center field that allowed freshman Sara Wissmann to score from second base. Fellow rookie Tara Knudsen then reached on an error by Stetson pitcher Gina Reynolds to put runners on the corners with no outs. Ellen Styer then recorded an infield single to load the bases. The Jackets next three batters were unable to put the ball in play and ended the threat.
Stetson took advantage of Tech’s lone run and plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Leah Wilbanks scored the first run as she reached third on a single by Tiffany Tolleson, and then scored when Tech’s catcher Erin Glantz’ attempted pickoff throw went into left field. Tolleson later scored on a squeeze-bunt single by Emily Harris to end the contest.
Tech starter Tiffany Goodman (7-5) took the loss for Tech as she went 7.0 innings, allowing two runs, one of which was earned, and seven hits. The Hatters’ Gina Reynolds (3-2) earned the win as she went the distance without allowing an earned run, scattering eight hits and striking out four Yellow Jackets.
In the second game, the Chanticleers jumped on top by a 4-0 count in the top of the fourth inning on the strength of a pair of two-run homers. After Sara Thompson drew a leadoff walk, Sarah Lockett sent Tech starter Erin Voeltz’ 0-1 pitch over the left-field fence. Holly Lee followed that hit with a triple to the fence in right field and was followed by Kara Schwind, who also cleared the left field fence with a home run.
The Jackets cut the margin to 4-1 in the bottom of the frame as Erin Hawley led off the inning with a double to right center and moved to third on a single by Tasha Waugh. Hawley later scored when Ellen Styer grounded into a double play for the first two outs of the inning.
Coastal upped its lead to 7-1 in the top of the seventh inning, as Kristie Pulchinski led off the inning with a single and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Lockett. Thompson followed with the second run of the inning as she scored on an RBI single by Schwind, after reaching base with a single. Lee scored the final Chanticleer run on a throwing error by Hawley following Schwind’s single. Lee reached base on a single.
Tech accounted for the final 7-3 margin in the bottom of the seventh with a pair of unearned runs as Jennifer Biggers led off with a single and scored along with Sara Wissmann on a two-RBI single by Hawley. Wissmann reached base on an error.
Danielle Jenkins (2-3) earned the win for Coastal as she went 5.0 innings, allowing only one earned run and scattering six hits. Voeltz (7-8) was saddled with the loss as she went 6.2 innings and allowed all seven runs, six of which were earned, on nine hits.
Georgia Tech will return to action on Tuesday, March 26, when it hosts Harvard in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Glenn Field.
