April 29, 2017
THE FLATS – In the teams’ first meetings since 2002, Georgia Tech softball (17-33) swept a doubleheader against Samford (21-32) with two run-rule victories, 8-0 (5) and 9-1 (6), on Saturday afternoon at Mewborn Field.
How It Happened
Game 1: Georgia Tech 8, Samford 0
The Jackets came out hot, scoring five runs on three hits in the opening frame. After Jessica Kowalewicz was hit by a pitch and Samantha Pierannunzi drew a walk, Katie Krzus delivered an RBI-single to plate Kowalewicz. Malea Bell’s smoked a line drive to third base for a hit, which scored Pierannunzi.
With two on and one out, Draven Sonnon stepped into the box and took a Grey Adams offering over the left field wall for her fourth home run of the season and three RBI.
Up 5-0, Tech added two runs in the third thanks to hits by Krzus, Kelsey Chisholm and Kaylee Ellebracht to go along with a sacrifice fly off the bat off Sonnon.
With the 7-0 lead, the Jackets got the final run in the fourth. With two outs, Pierannunzi and Krzus strung together back-to-back hits, which put Pierannunzi on third thanks to heads up base running and Krzus on first. As Krzus stole second, Pierannunzi was able to score on the throw down for the 8-0 advantage.
Emily Anderson (8-13) was solid in the circle. She pitched a one-hit shutout with eight strike outs and one walk through five innings
Samford used two pitchers in the loss with starter Adams (10-12) suffering the loss. She threw 2.1 innings and allowed seven runs on five hits.
Game 2: Georgia Tech 9, Samford 1 (6)
The Jackets rallied in game two from a 1-0 deficit for the 9-1 win in six innings. Up 7-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Tech had the bases loaded with no outs. Freshman Isabella Many came to the plate in a pinch hit appearance and produced a two-RBI single to left for her first collegiate hit, giving Tech the final 9-1 victory.
The Bulldogs scored first with a solo home run in the third off the bat of Whitney Hinton. Bulldog pitcher Taylor DeCelles kept Tech in check for four frames, but the Jackets adjusted and rallied in the fifth inning for five runs on five hits.
With the top of the order up, Kowalewicz singled and Pierannunzi legged out a bunt single. Samford made a throwing error on the play that allowed Kowalewicz to take third. With runners on the corners, Krzus came through with a double to plate both runners and give Tech the 2-1 advantage.
Chisholm singled to keep the rallying going and another Samford error on her steal to second plated Krzus. Sonnon produced again at the plate with her fifth home run to bring in two and make it a 5-1 game in Tech’s favor.
The Jackets added four runs in the sixth inning for the final 9-1 win. Pierannunzi was hit with a pitch, and singles from Krzus and Chisholm loaded the bases with no outs.
Sonnon and pinch hitter Kendall Chadwick each drew bases loaded walks to make it 7-1. That’s when Many stepped to the plate and roped a two-RBI single to give Tech the win.
Jenna Goodrich started in the circle and threw 4.1 innings with one run on four hits. Anderson entered in the fifth inning and earned the win (9-13) after throwing 1.2 innings and allowed just one hit with two strike outs.
Samford used three pitchers in the loss and starter DeCelles was pinned with the loss. She pitched four innings and surrendered five runs on eight hits.
Quote
“I’m proud of the team, we’re in the middle of exams and they are tired, but they pushed through to come out and fight for the sweep,” head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “We pitched really well. We set the tone in the first inning of the first game.
“Draven Sonnon saw the ball really well all day today. Our hitting was contagious and we played great defense. In the second game we had to come from behind. We had a lot of quality at bats and pinch hit at bats. The game-winning hit for Bell was special and the team was super excited for her. It was two, great team wins today.”
Quick Hits
– Krzus went 5-for-7 with three runs and a double on the day
– Sonnon had two home runs, seven RBI, three runs and two walks
– Pierannunzi, Kowalewicz and Chisholm each had three hits, while Pierannunzi and Chisholm scored four runs apiece
– Anderson pitched 6.2 scoreless innings on the day with 10 strikeouts, two hits, two walks and held Samford to a .091 hitting clip
– Tech scored 17 runs on19 hits on the day
Up Next
Georgia Tech hosts Pitt for a key ACC three game series next weekend May 5-7 on Senior Weekend, marking the final regular season games for Tech in 2017.
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