Feb. 13, 2002
ATLANTA — Paced by another strong pitching performance from freshman Jessica Sallinger and a late offensive outburst, the Georgia Tech softball team defeated Furman 6-1 in the second game of a double header to earn a split at Glenn Field. Furman took the first game by a score of 3-0.
Sallinger (2-0) scattered seven hits and posted seven strikeouts, as she allowed just one run in seven innings of work. She now has 18 strikeouts in just 12 innings pitched on the young season.
The game was scoreless until Tech (3-1, 0-0 ACC) scratched in the bottom of the fourth. Senior third baseman Jamie Frost reached on an error and was plated by sophomore shortstop Tara Knudsen, who doubled and took third on the throw home. Knudsen later scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore shortstop Soraya Reddick.
After Furman made things interesting by scoring to make the score 2-1 in the top of the sixth, the Jackets broke things open in the bottom of the inning. Knudsen singled to start the inning, and freshman Kirin Kumar entered to pinch run. Junior catcher Lindsay Wood then walked, and both runners advanced on a bunt single by Reddick. After two outs, freshman Katie Donovan doubled to score Kumar and Erin Glantz, who had come on to run for Wood. Junior Tara Neff then singled, driving in both Reddick and Donovan.
Knudsen led Tech in game two, by going 3-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored. Neff was 2-for-3 with two runs batted in.
In game one, the Jackets only managed four hits off Furman freshman starter Rachel Henley, who went the distance for her first win.
Sophomore Erin Voeltz (0-1) took the loss for Tech, as she allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk. She also struck out five.
Tech returns to action Saturday when it travels to Georgia Southern for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
-GT-
