May 2, 2003
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech sophomore Jessica Sallinger tossed her second one-hitter against Auburn in the last 10 days en route to her 20th victory of the season to lead the Jackets (35-19, 3-2 ACC) to a 2-0 win over the Tigers (26-29) Friday at Glenn Field.
Sallinger (20-12) dominated from the start, taking a perfect game into the fifth. She faced just two batters over the minimum and fanned eight Tigers. She now needs just five more strikeouts to reach 300 for the second consecutive season. Sallinger, dropped her earned run average to a season-low 1.06, owns both 20-win seasons in Tech softball history.
Tech jumped out to a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the first. Second baseman Felicia Coursey, who walked to lead off the game, scored from third on a RBI groundout by right fielder Soraya Reddick. The Jackets squandered a chance to break the game open, leaving the bases loaded without the benefit of a hit.
Junior shortstop Tara Knudsen increased the Yellow Jacket lead to 2-0 in the third with a run-scoring double to right. The hit plated third baseman Tara Neff, who opened the frame with an infield single to short, the Jackets’ first base hit off Auburn starter Kristin Keyes in 12 innings. She no-hit the Jackets in a 10-inning loss at Auburn on April 23.
Keyes falls to 12-14 with the loss. She allowed two runs on four hits and three walks. Tiger first baseman Kasey Angulo had Auburn’s lone hit, a single in the fifth.
The Jackets close out the regular season Sunday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against 12th-ranked Florida State. Tech’s four seniors will be honored before their final games at Glenn Field.
-GT-
