Feb. 16, 2002
STATESBORO, GA. — Paced by a pair of outstanding pitching performances, including the second no-hitter in three career starts by freshman Jessica Sallinger, the Georgia Tech softball team took a pair of games from Georgia Southern Saturday at Eagle Field. The Jackets won the first game, 1-0, in nine innings, and took the game two, 6-0.
Sallinger, who scattered 11 walks, improved to 3-0 on the season with the win. She fanned eight and allowed no hits in seven innings of work. Sallinger opened the season with a no-hitter against Gardner-Webb.
She had plenty of runs to work with, as the Jackets jumped on Eagle starter Tiffany Urena early in the second game.
Junior Felicia Coursey walked to lead off the game and moved to second when junior Tara Neff reached on an error while attempting to sacrifice. Sophomore Tara Knudsen then singled to plate Coursey. After junior Lindsay Wood advanced Neff and Knudsen with a sacrifice bunt, junior Mimi Utt had and RBI ground out, which scored Neff, giving Tech a 2-0 lead.
The Jackets added four runs in the second to make the score 6-0. Senior Jamie Frost led off with a single and moved to second when center fielder Sara Wissmann walked. After Coursey walked to load the bases, Neff was hit by Eagle pitcher Tiffany Urena, and Frost scored. Knudsen then cleared the bases with a double.
Those runs would all Tech would need to secure the win, which gives the Jackets (5-1, 0-0 ACC) their best start since 1991.
Knudsen led the way offensively, going 2-for-4 with four runs batted in.
In game one, sophomore Erin Voeltz and GSU starter Aimee Littlejohn kept the game scoreless until the ninth inning.
Pinch hitter Tasha Waugh got things started for the Jackets in the ninth by drawing a walk. Freshman Kirin Kumar, who reentered the game to pinch run for Waugh, advanced to second on Knudsen’s walk. After two outs, senior third baseman Jamie Frost singled to plate Kumar and give Tech a 1-0 lead.
Sophomore Erin Voeltz (1-1) allowed a pair of hits in the bottom of the ninth but fanned left fielder Meghan Correia to end the game. Voeltz scattered seven hits, struck out five and walked two to earn her first win of the season.
Knudsen and junior designated player Mimi Utt each had two hits in game one for the Jackets.
Tech returns to action on Wednesday, February 20, when the Jackets host cross-town rival Georgia State in a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Glenn Field.
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