March 31, 2002
ATLANTA – With a doubleheader sweep of Virginia Sunday at Glenn Field, the Georgia Tech softball team (31-9, 4-0 ACC) remained perfect in conference play and reached the 30-win plateau for the first time since 1996, the last time the Jackets won as many as four league games in a single season. Tech took game one, 5-1, and won the second, 3-1.
In game one, Tech got five runs batted in, including a grand slam from center fielder Sara Wissmann to cruise to the four-run win.
Virginia got on the board in the top of the first on a solo home run by third baseman Ruby Rojas. The Cavaliers got two more hits in the inning, but Tech starter Erin Voeltz pitched out of the jam, stranding runners at second and third.
The Jackets evened the count in their half of the first, as Wissmann drew a bases loaded walk, scoring second baseman Felicia Coursey and making the score 1-1. Coursey and catcher Lindsay Wood had hits in the frame.
Wissmann added to the score with a grand slam to right field in the third. First baseman Katie Donovan got the inning started with an infield single. Wood then doubled down the right field line, advancing Donovan to third. A walk to Frost then loaded the bases before Wissmann cleared them with her second homer of the season.
Voeltz picked up her 10th win, allowing just one run on five hits and three walks. She gave up only two hits after the first inning. With her fourth consecutive win, she now stands 10-4 in 2002.
Wood and Donovan led the Jackets with two hits apiece.
Tech got five earned runs off Cavalier starter Kristin Dennis, who entered the game as the ACC’s earned run average leader. The five runs came on eight hits and two walks.
Virginia also used a solo homer to take a 1-0 lead in the second game, this one off the bat of Dennis, who sent a Jessica Sallinger pitch over the right field wall in the fourth.
The Jackets responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. Wissmann reached on a throwing error by second baseman Jill Bumler. Right fielder Soraya Reddick then reached on an infield single, but the ball got by Cavalier first baseman Hannah Owings, allowing Wissmann to take third and Reddick to take second. Left fielder Kirin Kumar slapped a ball to third base, driving in Wissmann, who beat the throw home to tie the score at one.
Tech took a 3-1 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Wissmann, who led off the inning with a double, scored on a single by Kumar that dropped between the pitcher’s circle and second base. After designated player Tara Neff and Coursey reached, Donovan drew a bases loaded walk to give the Jackets a 3-1 margin.
That was more than enough for Sallinger, who allowed just one run on three hits in seven innings. She fanned nine, while improving to 15-4 on the season.
Starter Valerie Sevilla took the loss the Virginia.
Coursey and Reddick each went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Tech in game two.
The Jackets return to action Wednesday when they host Georgia Southern for a 3 p.m. doubleheader. Tech swept a pair from the Eagles in Statesboro on February 16.
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