Feb. 24, 2004
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Junior second baseman Katie Donovan drove in two runs in the top of the fifth inning in game one and freshman Kristina Hull drove in three runs in the nightcap to lead the Georgia Tech softball team past Gardner-Webb, 4-2 and 6-3, at the GWU Softball Complex this afternoon. The Yellow Jackets extended their winning streak to nine games with the sweep over the Bulldogs and improve to 11-1 on the season.
In the opener, Gardner-Webb broke Tech’s scoreless inning streak in the bottom of the second inning as Jess Wilke singled to center field to score Allison Murphy to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead heading to the third inning.
Junior Katie Donovan singled to get the Jackets started with one out in the fourth inning. Senior shortstop Tara Knudsen then doubled to right center field to put runners at second and third with one out. GWU’s Stacie Reichert closed the door on the Yellow Jackets’ threat with a strikeout and pop out as Tech trailed after four, 1-0.
Senior outfielder Sara Wissmann singled to left field with one out to get the fifth inning started for the Yellow Jackets. Freshman Kristina Hull reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second base on a bunt single by junior third baseman Kirin Kumar. Senior outfielder Soraya Reddick then singled down the right field line to tie the score at 1-1. Donovan followed with a single up the middle to drive in two runs and give Tech its first lead, 3-1.
Not going down without a fight, the Bulldogs’ Jennifer Wallace sent a double to the right field fence to score Murphy who singled to left field as Tech’s lead was cut to one after six innings, 3-2.
Reddick struck again for the Jackets in the top of the seventh inning, driving in her second run of the afternoon with a two-out single up the middle, scoring Hull to give Tech a 4-2 win.
Senior pitcher Erin Voeltz (5-1) went the distance for the Yellow Jackets, scattering six hits, allowing two earned runs and struck out seven. Reddick and Donovan led the Jackets at the plate, both going 2-for-3, with two RBIs.
In the nightcap, Tech jumped out in front 3-0 in the top of the first inning courtesy of a two-run double by sophomore right fielder Amy Hosier and a RBI single by Hull.
The Bulldogs got on the board in the bottom of the second inning on a leadoff home run by Jenni Wallace and tallied an unearned run off a single by Christie Barlow as Tech led 3-2 heading to the third inning.
The Rambling Wreck responded in the top of the third inning as Hosier drove in two runs and Hull singled to score to more runs as Tech extended its lead to four, 6-2.
Gardner-Webb concluded the scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning with its second unearned run as Tech downed the Bulldogs, 6-3.
Hosier and Hull led Tech offensively in game two. Hull finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Hosier went 2-for-4, with three RBIs and a double.
Junior pitcher Jessica Sallinger (6-0) broke the school record with 25 straight innings without allowing a run and fired her sixth complete game of the season. Sallinger allowed five hits, three runs, one earned run and struck out eight.
Tech will travel to the Leadoff Classic this Friday-Sunday, Feb. 27-29, in Columbus, Ga. The Yellow Jackets will face Virginia Tech at 5:30 p.m. and No. 12 Nebraska at 7 p.m. on Friday. Tech will then take on No. 9 Michigan on Saturday at 10 a.m. to complete pool play.
-GT SOFTBALL-
