April 8, 2018
DURHAM, N.C. – Georgia Tech softball (21-17, 7-5 ACC) plated four in the top of the third to take the series finale over Duke (20-20, 6-9 ACC) 5-3 to pocket the series two games to one. It marks the first time the Jackets have won three Atlantic Coast Conference series in a season since 2014.
Head coach Aileen Morales says:
This series win took a strong team effort. We had players throughout the lineup step up in big spots when the team needed them. Chisholm got us on the board with her homer, and Sonnon made a top-10 catch to save multiple runs from scoring. Anderson threw five great innings and Barfield closed it out. It’s fun to see the contributions throughout the lineup, and I am proud to have another ACC series win under our belt.”
How it happened:
Senior Kelsey Chisholm got the offense going for the Jackets. The score still at 0-0 in the top of the third, Chisholm led off with a home run over right center, her fourth of the season to put Tech ahead at 1-0. Still in the top of the third with two outs, senior Draven Sonnon drew a walk to reach base, advancing to third on a double from freshman Cameron Stanford. A single through the left side off the bat of junior Katie Krzus plated Sonnon to put Tech up 2-0. With runners on the corners, sophomore Crosby Huckabay drew a walk to load the bases for the Jackets. Freshman Lilly Hooper sent one past the third baseman on a fielding error, scoring Stanford and Krzus to bring the score to 4-0.
Senior Emily Anderson got the start in the circle for the Jackets. She held the Blue Devils through three. With runners on first and second, Sonnon robbed the Blue Devils of a three-run bomb to keep the lead at 4-0 but an RBI single scored one to bring the tally to 4-1.
The score stayed at 4-1 heading into the top of the sixth. With two outs, junior Kaylee Ellebracht blasted a solo shot over left center to add one to Tech’s tally and make the score 5-1.
Sophomore Brooke Barfield came into the circle for the Jackets in the bottom of the sixth for the Jackets. Anderson finished with six strikeouts, one earned run and one walk. Barfield gave up two unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh to move the score to 5-3 but held onto the lead to get Anderson the win and came away with her second save of the season.
Up next:
The Jackets travel to Kennesaw State on Wednesday, April 11 to take on the Owls in the annual “Lexi’s Day”. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. The annual game partners the Kennesaw State Softball program with the Alexis Kaiser Foundation in an effort to assist local young people who suffer with a neuromuscular disease.
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