March 6, 2003
MORAGA, Calif. – After allowing a season-high 10 hits and stranding 10 runners on base, the Georgia Tech softball team (12-8) fell to St. Mary’s (Calif.) College by a score of 6-3 Thursday at the Gaels’ Cottrell Field. SMC improves to 10-13 with the victory.
Down 6-1 in the seventh, Tech tried to rally as catcher Lindsay Wood cut the margin to 6-3 with a two-run homer to left, her third of the season. But St. Mary’s pitcher Jennifer Eaton was able to get two more outs and preserve the victory.
The Gaels put Tech in a 3-0 hole in the bottom of the first inning. SMC third baseman Michelle Hanifin scored the game’s first run when she was awarded home on an illegal pitch by Jackets’ starter Tiffany Goodman. Center fielder Tiffany Redding then scored on a triple by designated player Jennifer Arnold, who later came home when right fielder Eleni Papailias reached on an error by Tech first baseman Katie Donovan.
The Jackets got on the board in the third when second baseman Felicia Coursey scored from third when Gael left fielder Jordann Bass dropped a fly ball off the bat of Wood. Tech squandered a chance to tie the game in the frame as it left runners on second and third.
Arnold quickly got that run back for St. Mary’s with her fourth home run of the year. The shot to left in the bottom of the third came off Tech’s Erin Voeltz, who replaced Goodman to start the second. The Gaels extended the lead to 6-1, as Bass atoned for her error with a two-run homer to left of her own.
Voeltz and sophomore Jessica Sallinger, who fanned the side in the sixth, kept St. Mary’s off the board for the final three innings. Goodman (0-1) took the loss for Tech. She allowed three runs (two earned) in the first inning before leaving the game. Junior shortstop Tara Knudsen went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead Tech.
Eaton (6-6) earned the victory for St. Mary’s. She allowed four hits and two runs, while striking out four in four innings of work. Four Gaels had two hits each, led by Arnold, who was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.
Tech returns to action Friday against No. 23 Oregon and Missouri-Kansas City at the National Invitational Softball Tournament in Sunnyvale, Calif. The Jackets face the Ducks at 5 p.m. Eastern followed by a 7 p.m. meeting with the Kangaroos.
-GT-
