May 5, 2018
BRIGHTON, Mass. – Georgia Tech softball (28-25, 13-11 ACC) split Saturday’s doubleheader with Boston College (30-22, 13-10) in its final regular season games, taking the first game 6-0 before dropping the finale 4-3.
The Jackets earned the sixth seed in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. The conference championship tournament will be hosted on The Flats next week, Wednesday – Friday, May 9-12. Tech will take on third-seeded North Carolina at 7:30 p.m. on RSN on Thursday, May 10 in its first postseason appearance since 2014. The Jackets will finish the season above .500 for the first time since 2012.
Head coach Aileen Morales says:
“I’m proud of the way Brooke Barfield threw in the circle today. She pitched 10 scoreless innings with a complete game shutout in game and gave us a chance to comeback in game two. It was good to get some offense going this weekend heading into postseason play.”
Game 1: GT 6, BC 0
Sophomore Brooke Barfield got the start in the circle for the Jackets. She held the score at 0-0 heading into the top of the second. Freshman Lilly Hooper drew a walk to reach base, advancing to third on a single from junior Kaylee Ellebracht. Ellebracht stole second and a sacrifice fly to right field from senior Malea Bell scored Hooper to give Tech the 1-0 edge.
Barfield held the lead at 1-0 in the bottom of the second. To lead off the third, freshman Cameron Stanford drew a walk, advancing to second on a fielder’s choice from junior Katie Krzus, avoiding the tag on the play. With Krzus and Stanford on base, sophomore Crosby Huckabay reached on a fielder’s choice and an error by the Eagles landed all three safe to load the bases. Freshman Breanna Roper stepped up in a big way, clearing the bases with her second grand slam of the season to put Tech up 5-0. Roper’s first grand slam came in Tech’s home opener against No. 22 Nebraska in February. Roper has two home runs this season and both were grand slams.
Barfield kept the Eagles off the board heading into the sixth. Senior Draven Sonnon hit a single to left field to lead off the inning for the Jackets. A sacrifice hit from Stanford advanced her to second and Sonnon moved to third on a passed ball. After Krzus drew a walk to reach base, Huckabay knocked a double over the head of the center fielder to score Sonnon and move the lead to 6-0.
Barfield held on for the complete game shutout and her fourth win of the season.
Game 2: BC 4, GT 3
The Eagles scored first in the series finale. With senior Emily Anderson in the circle for the Jackets, a lead-off single landed a runner at first and Anderson advanced the runner to second with a walk. A sacrifice hit moved runners to second and third and a double to center field plated the runner from third to give Boston College the 1-0 lead.
The Eagles added three more in the bottom of the third to lead 4-0 and Barfield made her second appearance of the day in the circle, coming in to relieve Anderson.
The Jackets brought it within one in the top of the sixth. Roper led off the inning with a walk. Pinch hitting for Hooper, freshman Saige Pye reached on a fielder’s choice and an error by the second baseman landed Roper safe at second. Bell flew out to right field but Roper advanced to third on the play. Senior Kelsey Chisholm hit her fifth home run of the season out of left center to score three and bring the tally to 4-3.
That is as close as the Jackets would get as the comeback fell short and the Jackets lost 4-3. Barfield combined for 10 scoreless innings on the day. Anderson was landed with the loss.
Up next:
The Jackets return to The Flats to host the 2018 ACC Softball Championships from Wednesday – Saturday, May 9-12. Tech will compete in its first ACC tournament since 2014. Tech earned the sixth seed and will play third-seeded North Carolina on Thursday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m. on RSN.
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