April 26, 2002
ATLANTA – With two more strong pitching performances from sophomore Erin Voeltz and freshman Jessica Sallinger, the Georgia Tech softball team (45-15, 6-2 ACC) swept a doubleheader from Mercer (21-33) Friday at Glenn Field. The Jackets pounded out a season-high 14 hits to take game one, 10-2, and won the second, 4-0.
Tech got on the board first in game one on a solo home run to center field by sophomore shortstop Tara Knudsen. With the homer, she now has 15 on the year and needs just one to equal the Jackets’ single-season record.
Mercer tallied an unearned run in the top of the second to tie the count at one.
The Jackets bounced back to regain a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second, as a RBI single by designated player Tasha Waugh scored center fielder Sara Wissmann, who led off the inning with a double to left center.
The Bears tied the score in the top of fifth, as left fielder Stephanie Barrett was awarded home plate on an illegal pitch by Voeltz.
Tech then exploded for four runs in the bottom of the inning, with a two-run homer by Wissmann to right field proving to be the big hit. Earlier in the inning, catcher Lindsay Wood doubled to left field to drive in left fielder Tara Neff, who reached on a single. Knudsen, who walked, advanced to third on the play and then came home as Mercer third baseman Amy Parbon allowed the ball to get by her.
The Jackets put the game away in the sixth with four more runs, providing a final margin of 10-2. The first run came on a Knudsen single, which scored first baseman Katie Donovan. With the bases loaded, Wissmann was hit by a pitch, driving in pinch hitter Erin Glantz, who singled earlier in the inning. Right fielder Soraya Reddick then singled, scoring both Knudsen and Wood and ending the game due to the eight-run rule.
Wissmann led Tech offensively, going 2-for-3 with three runs batted in. Knudsen, Reddick, Waugh and Donovan also had two hits apiece. Knudsen and Reddick also drove in two runs each.
Voeltz earned the win to improve to 17-6 on the season. She allowed just five hits and one earned run, while walking three and striking out five. Starter Jennifer Fraser took the loss for Mercer.
The Jackets also took a 1-0 lead in early in game two, as second baseman Felicia Coursey swiped home on a double steal. She led off the game with a single to right field.
Tech increased its lead to 4-0 in the third. A triple to right by Reddick drove in both Knudsen and Wissmann, who doubled earlier in the inning. Waugh then singled to plate Reddick, who proved to be the final run of the game.
A four-run cushion was plenty for Sallinger (21-7), who allowed just three hits in seven innings to earn her ninth shutout of the season. She fanned 13 batters, extending her single-season record to 252. She has struck out at least 13 batters on four occasions this year.
Starter Kristi Montgomery was the game two loser for Mercer.
Coursey went 2-for-4 in the second game to lead Tech at the plate.
The Jackets return to action Sunday when they host 25th-ranked Georgia for a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Glenn Field.
-GT-
