RALEIGH, N.C. (Feb. 20) — Georgia Tech won both its games Sunday to capture the silver bracket championship of the 25-team Triangle Classic at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex. The Yellow Jackets finished 5-1 for the tournament and moved to 7-2 on the season.
Tech defeated Illinois-Chicago, 2-1, in the silver championship game after downing Akron, 6-1, to reach the finals. The silver bracket consisted of the second place teams after pool play. Tech opened play by defeating Elon, 6-3, and Wright State, 3-2, but lost to Minnesota, 2-0, in the contest for first place in the pool. Tech opened tournament play by defeating Eastern Kentucky, 11-1, to start its three-game run to the silver title.
Illinois-Chicago struck first in the title game in the top of the second inning on an RBI single by left fielder Molly Fielder to take 1-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets fought back in the bottom of the second to take the lead for good and chase Flames’ starter Rory Gonzalez. Senior catcher Anne Knobbe led off the Tech half of the frame with a single to right center and first baseman Beth Warren followed with a double to left center to place runners on second and third base. One out later, designated player Lacey Schanz singled down the left field line to plate Knobbe and tie the score. Third baseman Jamie Frost then followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Warren and post Tech to a 2-1 lead.
Freshman pitcher Tiffany Goodman took over the rest of the way as she scattered four hits and three walks over the last five innings to keep UIC from scoring. She improved her record to 3-1 on the year and won her third game in a row.
Tech entered the finals behind a three-hit pitching perfromance from senior Jamie Smith and the offense pounded out 11 hits in a 6-1 victory against Akron. Knobbe and Warren again led the way as Knobbe was 3-for-4 with an RBI and Warren was 2-for-3 with two RBI. A two-run throwing errow by the Zips in the fourth inning sealed the win for Tech.
The Jackets return to action Wednesday by hosting Furman in the season home opener at Glenn Field at 3 p.m.
Silver Bracket ChampionshipIll.-Chicago 010 000 0 -- 1 6 1Ga. Tech 020 000 x -- 2 5 1Silver Bracket SemifinalGa. Tech 202 200 0 -- 6 11 0Akron 010 000 0 -- 1 3 2